Saquon Barkley-Giants extension talks began in November 2022 and memorably ran up to the July 2023 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals. Not much activity has transpired this offseason.
Although the Giants met with Barkley at the combine and are likely to make an offer to retain their Pro Bowl running back, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy reports the team has not submitted one this offseason. The Giants will lose their exclusive negotiating rights with Barkley at 11 a.m. CT on Monday when the legal tampering period begins.
This year’s legal tampering period will be Barkley’s first chance to negotiate with a team other than the Giants since they drafted him second overall in 2018. The Giants passed on franchise-tagging Barkley a second time, at a rate of just more than $12M, and may be ready to bid farewell to the six-year starter. While this is a crowded free agent running back class, Barkley is expected to draw the most attention. Barkley reaching the tampering period unsigned increases the chances he will play elsewhere in 2024.
The Giants could not resume Barkley negotiations until after the regular season ended, but they have now had nearly two months to make another offer. Not doing so runs in stark contrast to last year, when they frantically attempted to retain both Barkley and Daniel Jones. The team re-signed Jones and tagged Barkley minutes before last March’s tag application deadline. It is worth wondering the alternate reality of what would have played out if the team had reversed those moves, as Jones may be going into his last season as Giant — as persistent rumors about the team drafting a QB emerge.
No signs exist the Giants will ramp up talks at the 11th hour, Dunleavy adds, with the team potentially ready to let Barkley see what kind of offers come on the open market. GM Joe Schoen said a second tag was a consideration, but a rumor also emerged last month that the team was leery of Barkley’s age (27) and making another notable commitment. The Giants are believed to have offered Barkley a deal with a $22M guarantee last summer. The team reducing the offer’s AAV below $12M, however, helped influence the former Offensive Rookie of the Year to pass. That sets the stage for this free agency foray.
Many backs will be available for the Giants in free agency. Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, D’Andre Swift and Gus Edwards are ticketed for free agency in one of the best RB classes in the free agency era. Devin Singletary, who played in Brian Daboll’s offense for three seasons in Buffalo, also could appeal to the Giants at a lower cost. With Barkley likely the most expensive player in this crowded group, the Giants may be ready to add one of the other vets at a reduced rate.
The Giants may lose both Barkley and Xavier McKinney next week. The team did not use the transition tag on McKinney. Kyle Dugger‘s transition tag may have played a role. With Dugger tagged, McKinney naturally becomes a more attractive piece in free agency. The Giants would not have been entitled to compensation if McKinney signed an offer sheet they did not match. Had the Giants transition-tagged McKinney, they also would not have been entitled to a 2025 compensatory pick if they did not match an offer sheet, as CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones points out. Transition-tagged players no longer count toward the compensatory formula.
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