There's more information about the type of contract the New York Giants offered star running back Saquon Barkley earlier this offseason.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Wednesday afternoon that "a league source with knowledge of the situation" said the Giants presented Barkley with a contract worth $13M per year and $26M over the deal's first two seasons.
"The offer was made before the deadline for applying the franchise tag, with the express message from the team that, if the tag were applied to Barkley, the offer would be pulled," Florio continued. Florio added Barkley's camp instead wanted closer to $16M per year.
It was previously reported Barkley's representatives rejected a contract that could've paid the 2018 first-round draft pick as much as $14M per year, including incentives. The Giants used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Barkley's rights for 2023 back on March 7 after they agreed to sign quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year contract that could be worth up to $160M, and Florio said Wednesday the club has "not to date been willing to put the $13M per year offer back on the table for Barkley" since that time.
There reportedly was optimism ahead of the July 4 holiday that the Giants and Barkley would work something out before this coming Monday's deadline for teams to sign tagged players. The situation changed, however, when ESPN NFL insider Dianna Russini tweeted Wednesday the parties "remain at a stalemate." Russini also said that Barkley's availability for the Giants' regular-season opener versus the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10 "will be in serious question" if he's still set to play on the $10.091M franchise tender by then.
Fox Sports NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano said Tuesday he believes Barkley "has no options" and will eventually play on the tag, if necessary, because the 26-year-old "is a generally good guy and great teammate." Vacchiano repeated that take via Twitter on Wednesday:
Maybe Saquon will sit out some of camp. He clearly wants the Giants to think he will. That’s his best leverage.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) July 12, 2023
But deal or no deal, he’ll be back eventually. When he is, the Giants think he'll put his bitter contract talks behind him even if he’s not happy with the $10.1M tag.
One last Saquon reminder before I go finish my vacation: The only numbers that matter are the amounts of guaranteed money that the Giants are offering and that Saquon wants. Both are so far unknown.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) July 12, 2023
Everything is else -- years, total money -- is irrelevant window dressing.
"Barkley is making noise currently about holding out into the regular season because he needs to muster any/some leverage before Monday," Florio continued. "After Monday, nothing he says or does can get him a long-term deal in 2023."
Florio echoed what he said last month and noted Barkley could stay away from the Giants through the preseason in an attempt to earn more than $10.091M for 2023 and/or to get the franchise to guarantee it won't use the tag on him next March. With time running out, it seems Barkley and his people are planning for Monday afternoon to come and go without an agreement:
Wrote this a month ago … not much has changed since. I’ve heard nothing to indicate Saquon Barkley and the Giants will reach a long-term deal by the 4 p.m. Monday deadline.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) July 12, 2023
And no, Saquon is not going to sit out the season. He’s just not … https://t.co/jLIYaiFAYa pic.twitter.com/7kLauVO3Qb
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