Insider, Giants icon expand on Saquon Barkley franchise-tag decision

The New York Giants didn't use the franchise tag worth roughly $12.1M to retain running back Saquon Barkley before Tuesday's deadline for such moves, and team insider Jordan Raanan of ESPN explained why.

"They don't see the value in paying a running back $10M," a source told Raanan about the Giants. 

It was suggested in February that Barkley could be disappointed by offers he receives in free agency for several reasons. The market is about to be filled with a handful of big-name veterans at the position when teams prefer to pay younger and cheaper talents, and Barkley has a concerning injury history for a 27-year-old ball-carrier. He most recently missed three games this past season due to an ankle sprain. 

One unnamed NFL general manager told Raanan that Barkley shouldn't expect to get more than "in the $8M-per-year range on a new contract in a tough offseason for free agents." Other "executives, scouts and agents with experience in running back negotiations" believe the two-time Pro Bowl selection could sign a contract worth "closer to $10M per season." 

It's unclear how much Giants general manager Joe Schoen would pay to keep Barkley for at least one more campaign. However, it seems New York may hit a reset button by drafting an eventual replacement for quarterback Daniel Jones after the club finished the 2023 season with a record of 6-11. According to Ryan Chichester of Audacy, Giants icon and current CBS Sports NFL analyst Tiki Barber said during Tuesday's edition of the WFAN "Evan and Tiki" program that "it feels like Saquon Barkley has no chance of re-signing with the" organization. 

"I get the feeling someone is going to value Saquon Barkley more than what the Giants value him at," Barber added. Specifically, Barber noted how Barkley was previously linked with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. Both AFC clubs are coming off playoff runs and could view Barkley as a missing piece similar to what Christian McCaffrey has been for the San Francisco 49ers since the fall of 2022. 

Raanan mentioned that the Giants not tagging Barkley for a second straight offseason "has more to do with the value of the position than anything else." That makes it sound like Barkley won't get his wish to be a "Giant for life" even if he's willing to give Schoen somewhat of a discount once free agency opens next week.