Suddenly, Saquon Barkley finds himself going from franchise running back to possibly not being with the New York Giants for very long. And now, one past franchise legend and Super Bowl winner with the team has a stirring suggestion for the back: Join a fellow 1,000-yard rusher … but one who plays quarterback.
What Is Victor Cruz Suggesting to Saquon Barkley?
Victor Cruz shared on the “Craig Carton Show” Thursday that Barkley should demand a trade to the Chicago Bears, even after agreeing to a temporary deal during the week of July 24.
Cruz, who led the Giants to the Super Bowl 46 win over the New England Patriots, was blunt in stating how he’s not a fan of how the team has treated the star running back.
“I have a problem with all of it,” Cruz bluntly stated. “There’s nothing about this deal that secures Saquon for the long term. He’s one of those special ones, those special ones who can catch out of the backfield and do things that are above the Xs and Os. So not getting the type of money he deserves hurts the entire market.”
That’s when Cruz gave a personal crystal ball of what will happen next and offered the suggestion to Barkley to inquire about a trade.
“But after this year, the Giants are going to franchise tag him again. It’s going to be the same song. And so, he should go to Chicago where they got a young quarterback,” Cruz said, referring to 1,000-yard rusher Justin Fields.
Cruz adds that the Bears can even give him a workable deal while pairing him with another playmaker with 1,000-yard experience but in the wideout room.
“They don’t have to pay for a couple of years. They got DJ Moore as a wide receiver. Insert Saquon Barkley at running back,” Cruz said.
Cruz Adds More Reasons Why the Bears Are a Strong Fit for Barkley’s Future
Outside of scrutinizing the Fields and Moore collaboration set to take off in the Windy City in 2023, Cruz took a look at the rest of the Bears top to bottom, pointing out why he believes Chicago is prime for Barkley.
Chicago was one of the more aggressive teams during the offseason. The Bears, led by general manager Ryan Poles, helped orchestrate the move to get the Carolina Panthers’ perennial 1,000-yard wideout over to Chicago.
The team also bolstered the defense by signing former Philadelphia Eagles LB TJ Edwards and two-time Pro Bowler Tremaine Edmunds from the Buffalo Bills. The team also turned to the draft to select Darnell Wright out of Tennessee to bolster the team’s pass protection and run-blocking prowess moving forward.
“The offensive line is redone. It’s nice to adapt. It feels nice and cozy there. The defense is formidable. I’m telling him, after this year, I would request a trade to Chicago,” Cruz said.
Barkley’s temporary deal is only for one season and $11 million. Barkley’s name was included in the growing unrest among the value of running backs during the week of July 17, as he and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders didn’t reach an extension with their teams.
