Report: 'Belief' is Giants will re-sign Saquon Barkley before free agency

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen may be closer to holding onto both running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones than some think. 

"The belief is the New York Giants will retain Saquon Barkley by re-signing him before free agency opens up" next month, Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reported on Tuesday. "It’s been widely reported that the two sides are negotiating with the hopes of reaching a new deal." 

Other than Jones, Barkley was the top offensive play-maker for a Giants team that lacked a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver but nevertheless earned a playoff berth and notched a postseason win at the Minnesota Vikings. 

According to The Football Database, Barkley finished this past regular season seventh among all players with 1,650 yards from scrimmage. Per ESPN, the 25-year-old was fourth with 1,312 rushing yards and ninth with 10 rushing touchdowns. 

Perhaps most importantly, Barkley stayed healthy enough to appear in 18 total games, including the playoffs. 

Both Barkley and Jones are set to hit free agency when the new league year opens in March, so locking one down sooner than later would provide Schoen with options regarding the other. 

SNY NFL insider Connor Hughes reported on Monday that Jones could earn "between $35 and $37 million" per season via his second pro contract, while The Athletic's Dan Duggan noted on Tuesday that the $32.4 million franchise tag is "likely serving as the floor for the annual average salary in a long-term contract" the signal-caller could receive. 

Duggan added that "the Giants likely will need to guarantee money into the third year of a Jones extension." 

However, Schoen signing Barkley would keep the franchise tag open to use on Jones in case his camp and the Giants can't come to terms on a deal. 

Both Hughes and Paul Schwartz of the New York Post have insisted Jones won't hit the open market no matter what happens between the Giants and Barkley's representatives this winter.