This Snag Could Very Well End the Giants-Saquon Barkley Business Relationship
The New York Giants want running back Saquon Barkley back, but whether that happens comes down to what they have budgeted to pay him.
Barkley is looking for a fair deal that makes sense for him. While he has not said publicly what he considers to be fair, it wouldn't be surprising if he's looking to land among the top five paid at his position. For that to happen, Barkley would have to end up with a deal that averages at least $10 million per season.
The Giants, however, reportedly do not want to pay that much for a running back. ESPN reported that if the Giants can't get Barkley at their price, they're ready to move on.
Last year, the Giants had offers for Barkley that topped $10 million yearly. However, the guaranteed money was the sticking point, and in the end, Barkley settled for a modified franchise tag that had about $1 million in incentives tied to the postseason that were never realized.
Circumstances were also different last year. The Giants were coming off a successful season the year prior and were looking to build off that. Barkley had also made it through the year without missing time to injury, a feat he couldn't replicate in 2023.
The different circumstances all point to the likely reason why the odds of Barkley and the Giants reaching a deal look bleak, unless Barkley, whose epiphany last year before camp led him to report on time for training camp despite his disappointment with how his contract talks worked out, values his Giants legacy so much that he agrees to a lower-priced deal.
If the Giants and Barkley don't agree on a new deal, they should have no shortage of veteran backs to choose from, including Zack Moss, Antonio Gibson, Devin Singletary, and Alexander Mattison. They could also add to the group via the draft.
The pre-free agency negotiating window opens on Monday. Free agency officially begins on March 13.
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