NFL Insider Predicts Saquon Barkley Will Remain a Giant
One of the biggest issues the New York Giants face this offseason is what to do with star running back Saquon Barkley, who will be a free agent once again.
Barkley, who has made no secret of his desire to be a Giant for life, was in a similar situation last off-season. He finished his first fully healthy campaign since his rookie season in 2018 and set a new career high in rushing yardage.
But despite having shown that he was fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered in 2020, Barkley and the Giants could not agree to a long-term deal last off-season, the running back instead playing on a one-year modified franchise tag.
With Barkley a pending free agent again, things could be different this year. While the Giants could choose to use their franchise tag on Barkley for a second consecutive season, it seems unlikely they'll do so. Instead, they could allow him to test the market in return for having a chance to match any offer he receives.
Unlike last year, when the Giants were at peace with carrying Barkley on the $11 million modified franchise tag, that doesn't appear to be the case this year, even though the franchise tag amount for running backs increased. But NFL insider Tom Pelissero, on a recent episode of The Rich Eisen Show, believes it likely won't come to that and that the Giants and Barkley will eventually agree to a deal.
“Now they had him for $10.1 million, and they had him a bargain on the tag, all of which is to say the Giants clearly value Saquon Barkley," Pelissero said (h/t Essentially Sports). "I find it hard to believe that he will play on the tag this year. I do believe that there will be an effort made on the Giants’ part to see if they can get a deal done with Saquon.“
