Could A Trade For Barkley Bolster The Bucs’ Backfield?

The Bucs appear content material with their backfield for the 2022 season. Starter Leonard Fournette was re-signed to a three-year deal value $21 million. The Bucs re-signed veteran third-down again Giovani Bernard and changed Ronald Jones II with Rachaad White, a third-round draft decide. Ke’Shawn Vaughn is again for his third season and Kenjon Barner will compete for kick return duties.

However Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox means that the Giants may commerce operating again Saquon Barkley, who’s in a contract 12 months. Knox believes the Bucs are the very best match.

Barkley, the second total decide in 2018, made the Professional Bowl as a rookie. He rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns along with catching 91 passes for 721 yards and 4 extra TDs. Barkley’s manufacturing was down the subsequent 12 months, as he rushed for 1,003 yards and 6 touchdowns, whereas catching 52 passes for 438 yards and two extra scores.

The previous Penn State star suffered a torn ACL two video games into his third season, and rushed for less than 562 yards and a pair of TDs final 12 months in 13 video games. He additionally caught 41 passes for 263 yards and two TDs. As Knox factors out, Barkley appears able to rebound in 2022.

“He’s been good. He’s been in a position to do every part we’ve requested him to do,” Giants coach Brian Daboll told reporters. “… The routes we’re asking him to run, his quickness, his skill to get out and in of breaks, his lengthy pace. It’s all regarded good.”

Knox’s Reasoning For The Bucs Doubtlessly Buying and selling For Barkley

Right here’s why Knox has the Bucs as the very best match when it comes to buying and selling for Barkley.

Whereas a wholesome Barkley may assist get extra out of Jones, he may additionally carry much-needed worth in a commerce. His assured $7.2 million wage isn’t extreme, and the Giants would possibly be capable of pry a excessive Day 2 decide from a contender in the event that they’re prepared to soak up a few of it.

The choice for New York is letting Barkley play out his contract after which deciding whether or not to speculate closely in an up-and-down operating again with a prolonged harm historical past. That’s a tricky place for a franchise that isn’t able to compete now.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are able to win now and will use one other dual-threat operating again after shedding Ronald Jones II in free company. Tampa has $10.5 million in cap house out there and will afford so as to add Barkley as one other outlet choice for Tom Brady.

Barkley’s contract scenario could also be simpler to take for the Bucs than for different groups. Having Barkley on a one-year deal isn’t as a lot of a difficulty for a group that will enter a full-blown rebuild if Brady retires (for actual, this time) subsequent offseason.

Is Barkley A Good Match In Tampa Bay?

The Bucs cherished Barkley popping out of Penn State. They might have thought of taking him with their first-round decide if he was nonetheless on the board. His skill to run and catch the ball must be interesting to Tampa Bay.

However with Fournette already underneath contract, how a lot would it not value to amass Barkley if the Bucs had been ? And the way a lot wage would he command subsequent 12 months as a free agent?

Tampa Bay may be very excessive on White, and Vaughn confirmed some enchancment final 12 months as effectively. However Bucs operating backs have had notoriously underwhelming rookie seasons in Tampa Bay. Jones rushed for 44 yards on 23 carries and one landing with seven catches for 33 yards in 2018. Vaughn rushed for 109 yards and had simply 5 catches for 34 yards and one TD as a rookie.

If the Giants need to deal Barkley this 12 months and if the Bucs wind up being after the preseason it will actually be a great match.