Giants and Barkley Were Reportedly Close to a Deal
What’s a million or two among friends?
Apparently everything, according to the New York Post and NFL Network, who reported the final gap between the New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley wasn't as astronomical as some might have thought.
The Post reported that the Giants’ final offer to the running back was for $11 million per year with the guaranteed money “slightly north” of $22 million. Ultimately, that offer was between $1-$2 million shy of what Barkley was reportedly seeking.
The Post’s report aligns with what NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo heard through his sources.
The reported $11 million APY is less than an earlier reported offer of up to $13 million per year which, per Pro Football Talk, also included $26 million in the first two years. Barkley not only rejected that offer but also an offer made during the bye week last year that was reportedly worth $12.5 million per year.
The reduced offer by the Giants apparently took shape after the running back market rate tanked again this past offseason. And once Barkley rejected the team’s offer made earlier this year, just before the start of free agency, the team took it off the table when it applied the franchise tag.
The Giants reported final offer, though, is something of a headscratcher given what it had done for its two other major contract negotiations. The team gave quarterback Daniel Jones and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence the equivalent of two franchise tag amounts plus a little extra in their respective deals.
Yet the reported $22 million offered to Barkley is the sum of the tags for running backs this year and next, the total sounding as though not a penny more was offered.
The Giants can still work with Barkley’s representatives on a revised franchise tag that could include a promise not to tag him again next year, but thus far, there has been no indication of the team’s willingness to do that.
Meanwhile, it’s expected that Barkley will not report to training camp next week when the team opens its training camp on July 25.
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