The New York Giants will be ready to offer Saquon Barkley the franchise tag for the second consecutive offseason.
The star running back is upset that the Giants’ brass has not been able to sign him to a high-paying multi-year contract.
Giants: There is reason for concern regarding Saquon Barkley’s level of care in contract negotiations.
Regarding the possible impending offer, Barkley was direct in his assessment, as Jason Owens of Yahoo Sports reported:
Barkley said, “They did it last year, so I’m numb to it.” “I have absolutely no sentiments about that. If you intend to proceed, please do not wait until March 5. Please just finish it. If not, please release me. Easy.
The Giants signed a four-year, $160 million contract with quarterback Daniel Jones last year, making him their main man after their 9-7 season and first postseason appearance since 2016.
Barkley accepted the franchise tag, but during the 2023 season, he made it clear that it did not sit well with him.
Despite having a franchise tag, Barkley was among the highest paid employees at RB in 2023.
Barkley was tied for the eighth-highest salary among running backs in 2023 with Tony Pollard ($10.09 million), despite the stigma associated with the position. This information was reported by USA Today.
The 26-year-old Barkley has struggled with injuries that have limited his playing time. Most recently, he missed three games during the regular season this year due to a high ankle sprain that occurred in Week 2.
Barkley did, however, end up with 962 rushing yards and a Pro Football Focus player grade of 70.2. His 68.7 yards per game would have put him on pace to finish with 1,168 yards, which would have ranked third in the NFL behind Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, had he played all 17 games.
Will Barkley’s departure from New York be spoiled by the Giants?
Barkley is obviously one of the best rushers in the league due to his output. He is without a doubt New York’s most valuable asset, particularly when it comes to the offensive end of the ball.
The Giants have not made a firm verbal commitment to providing Barkley with the long-term stability and pay he deserves. However, the front office will need to make a critical decision between now and March 5.
The Giants’ depth chart at quarterback entering the upcoming season will be more than adequate due to an abundance of quarterbacks on the roster and in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. One could say the opposite when running back. If Barkley leaves later this winter, the Giants might look back and wonder why they didn’t try harder to hold onto him.
