Giants were so locked in on taking Saquon Barkley in the 2018 NFL Draft that he didn’t answer Broncos’ phone for a trade up to the No.2 pick

Barkley could have been playing for a different franchise.

Giants were so locked in on taking Saquon Barkley in the 2018 NFL Draft that he didn’t answer Broncos’ phone for a trade up to the No.2 pick

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (Image via ESPN)

The New York Giants‘ selection of Saquon Barkley back in 2018 was a very controversial decision from then-general manager Dave Gettleman. And now, six years later, when Barkley is on the verge of becoming a free agent, that conversation has risen once more.

The Giants fans, including several analysts and pundits, were divided as to whether it was a mistake to draft Barkley as the No. 2 overall. It’s not a dig at the 26-year-old, but rather the running back position. Because he has kept the end of the bargain, being only one of the few consistent performers for the Blues.

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Since the beginning of last offseason, when the Giants refused to budge on giving him an extension, Barkley’s stay in New York has been a massive talking point. A new piece of information revealed that he wouldn’t even be in the Big Apple if things had turned out differently.

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Connor Hughes of SNY Reports reported that the Denver Broncos had a major offer for the Giants for the No. 2 spot. After the news broke that Baker Mayfield would go No. 1, Broncos GM John Elway was desperate to trade up for quarterback Sam Darnold.

During his recent appearance on WFAN, Hughes said,

I remember talking to Mike Maccagnan about this because you remember the Jets were drafting third. We had our sources say the Giants were so locked in on Barkley at number two.

How did Saquon Barkley end up with the Giants?

Growing up in Bronx, New York, Brakley was a fan of Giants cross-town rivals, the New York Jets. While he was thrilled to stay close to home, playing for the blue half instead of the green was probably not on his bucket list. And he probably would not have if Gettleman had picked up the call from Elway.

Giants were so locked in on taking Saquon Barkley in the 2018 NFL Draft that he didn't answer Broncos' phone for a trade up to the No.2 pick
Saquon Barkley (Image via Bleacher Report)

Hughes continued with his story,

They had Sam (the Giants) as their number one quarterback, but they thought they were getting Baker at three. (But) the only person who loved Sam more was John Elway with the Broncos, and he (Maccagnan) was petrified that John was going to call the Giants and offer the house for No. 2 in order to get Sam Darnold.

Well, Elway did, or at least tried to, according to Hughes, who was surprised that the Giants did not trade for Darnold.

Dave was so locked in on No. 2 that he wouldn’t answer the phone. So, when Dave said in his press conference they didn’t need to even take calls, they ran it up to get Barkley.

Barkley won the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award along with a Pro Bowl call. He received another one in 2022. But Gettleman and the Giants had already parted ways in 2021.

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