Beat writer updates Giants' Saquon Barkley stance

Multiple NFL writers began the midweek by suggesting that New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen will not use the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley for a second straight year, and instead will allow Barkley to reach free agency in March. 

Giants beat writer Paul Schwartz of the New York Post explained the club's mindset regarding Barkley for a piece published Monday evening. 

"The bottom line is the Giants are not expected to allocate (roughly $12.1M for 2024) on their salary cap for one running back, especially someone they likely view as in decline," Schwartz noted. "The Giants have conducted studies at the position that show most running backs can trend upward through the age of 26. Once 27 hits, there is a cliff off which most start to fall. Barkley turned 27 on Feb. 9." 

Across 16 regular-season games in the 2022 campaign, Barkley recorded 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 57 receptions for 338 yards. 

To compare, the 2018 first-round draft pick with a worrisome injury history appeared in 14 games this past season and rushed for 962 yards and six scores. He also accumulated 41 catches for 280 yards and four touchdowns. 

Schwartz added that "the Giants also see this as a fairly saturated running back market." 

Barkley, Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, Devin Singletary and Zack Moss are among the recognizable big names at the position who could be available as free agents when the new league year opens in mid-March at a time when clubs routinely undervalue veteran running backs. 

In an article posted on Tuesday, Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com mentioned that "it’s hard to imagine Schoen suddenly offering Barkley a lucrative contract that blows him away and results in Barkley saying 'no thanks' to exploring true free agency." 

That doesn't necessarily mean Barkley will head elsewhere, as he may fully embrace his "Giant for life" mantra and offer Schoen even a slight discount to stick around for at least another season or two. 

Barring an unexpected development, though, it now seems unlikely Schoen will retain Barkley's rights via what is an expensive tag for any running back. 

Unless the situation changes before the March 5 deadline for such decisions, Barkley should learn exactly how much other clubs are willing to pay him at this stage of his career.