Giants Country

New York Giants Mailbag: Training Camp, Saquon, and More

Let's open up the mailbag to see what's on everyone's mind.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag: Training Camp, Saquon, and More
New York Giants Mailbag: Training Camp, Saquon, and More

In this story:

New York Giants

If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please send it to nygiantsmaven@gmail.com. Note: Some letters may have been edited for clarity/length.

(From David D. via Subtext Community): Now that the contract deadline has passed and Barkley still hasn't signed the tag, does Schoen try and improve RB room? If so, would Breida and Brightwell possibly be cut, and what realistic RB signings could you see?

What’s good, David? Breida and Brightwell will get a chance to compete for playing time, with Saquon expected to miss camp. I don’t see Breida being cut; Brightwell probably won’t be cut either, but I am curious to see how Eric Gray fits into the mix.

As for improving the running back room, again, I believe Barkley will, at some point, report to the team. I don’t think he skips the entire season. And once he does report, you’ll have a much better-looking running back room.

(From Raymond S.): Please excuse my ignorance, but does this affect the Giants cap situation? That is if Barkley doesn’t sign.

It sure does, Raymond. With the franchise and transition tags, the amount is automatically deducted from a team’s cap space regardless of when the tag is signed. Now if Barkley makes good on a threat to skip regular-season games, the Giants will get a cap credit for each week Barkley misses in the amount of one-seventeenth of the $10.1 million total. But I don’t think it will get to that point.

(From Bill T.) Can a player on an unsigned tag be traded? Is there any deal Schoen would take for Saquon, and if so, what might that be?

In the case of a franchise-tagged player, I believe he can be traded without signing the tag, but there has to be the promise of him signing a new deal that would be worked out before a trade before such a transaction is consummated. I’m sure Schoen would take a deal for Barkley if the right offer came along—remember, the franchise tag carried two first-round picks as compensation for any team signing him to an offer sheet.

I think Schoen would want at least a Day 2 pick in such a deal. I also think it’s too early to think about a trade right now, as teams still need to unwind during training camp and see what they have before worrying about what they need to get.

(From Ed C.) did any other team approach Barkley about a contract? I don’t think anyone would have been willing to give up two #1s for him but was there any outside interest?

Not to my knowledge. Who in their right mind would give up two first-round draft picks these days for a position that's a dime a dozen and when those picks come on a fairly inexpensive rookie contract?

(From Ken P. via Subtext Community): Do you think they would rescind the tag and sign, say, Kareem Hunt since I doubt Saquon is long for the Giants beyond this year, and I fear a distraction all year? Also, we would gain quite a bit of cap space. I know losing him is not ideal, but they want a passing offense moving forward, so we might as well get on with it.

Ken, I’ would be surprised if the Giants went to that extreme. I really would. If they couldn’t agree to terms with Barkley, what makes people think negotiations with Kareem Hunt or Dalvin Cook will go any smoother or create a lot of cap space? Further, why even contemplate that route?

All you’re doing at that point is further fracturing the relationship after you just spent every public opportunity you had gushing about how much you want Barkley as part of the team. Regardless of what kind of offense the Giants want, Barkley can be a part of it if he wants to be. The ball is in his court right now, and while I get it that his feelings have been bruised, no one said life would always be fair. 

(From Charlie H.) I don’t agree that the guaranteed money for Saquan should have started at slightly above the 2-year tag total of 22.1M, just like DJ and Dexter Lawrence. There are two major differences: Saquon has an injury history, and the expected career length is shorter for Saquan as compared to Dexter and DJ, and they proved their worth for multiple years.

Why should the Giants fully guarantee a second tag for an injury-prone player? Their logic was to guarantee the first year and stretch to guarantee MOST of the second year.

Yes, the Giants risk Saquon staying healthy and having a super year, but they used the same logic as not picking up DJ’s option year: Show me first you can stay healthy and play at a high level for two years, then we can be generous with a lucrative deal.

Hi Charlie. Didn't Jones have an injury history as well? Wasn't Jones coming off a major neck injury when the team decided not to pick up his option year? So let's throw that exception out the window right there. As for your second point, while true, this is why you don't give Saquon more than a three-year deal with an out after two.

If they couldn't agree this year, I think it might be tricky for the Giants and Barkley to agree next year if each side is firmly dug in and with Saquon going to be a year older with more tread on his tires. I hate to say it, but right now, I believe Saquon and the Giants could be headed for a split.

What I would consider doing is raising the franchise tag amount to the $11 million APY that was reported and including a clause promising not to tag him again next year. But I don't see the Giants doing that right now until they see what they have in Eric Gray and the others in camp.

While this whole scenario sucks for Saquon, he can either take an "I'll show you" approach, or he can sit and sulk. I would hope he'll take the latter approach and somehow finds a silver lining in these clouds.

No. Saquon isn't leaving $10.1 million on the table. And besides, if they couldn't agree to terms with Saquon, what makes you think Cook would be any easier to sign? (By the way, have you seen this report about the former Vikings running back?)

(From Juan C. via Subtext Community): Since Barkley hasn't signed yet, does he have access to the playbook?? Will he be mentally ready to play in Week 1?

Hi Juan. I don't think Barkley has physical access to the team's playbook, but that said, he did play in this offense last year. I wouldn't worry too much about the mental part of his game being off when he does eventually report.

(From Karen V. via Subtext Community): Le'Veon Bell sat out and basically ended his career. Do you believe Saquon would sit out a year in his prime years? After this year, would he still be under Giants' control?

I don't see Saquon leaving $10.1 million fully guaranteed on the table. That's a lot of clams, and I think he'd be foolish to do that. After this season, the Giants would need to tag him again to retain rights to his service or get him signed to a new deal. It's early, but I have my doubts about either happening.

(From Dan W. via Subtext Community): Do you think Daniel Jones is elite?

Nope. Elite means top five. And right now, Jones isn't a top-five quarterback.

I'm not sure what that reason is, to be honest, or why it makes sense in the eyes of those who put it in there, but that's the rule. 

Michael, Barkley is NOT leaving $10.1 million on the table. That would be incredibly stupid on his part if he felt otherwise, as not only would he screw himself out of money, but he would help the Giants' cap situation. Seriously, I think right now we just need to let the dust settle with Barkley. Cooler heads will prevail.

(From Niko C.) Do you feel Barkley will now strictly be trade bait based off of his performance this next year and already not in the future plans for the Giants? I can see Joe acquiring more capital to build the team his way. Similar to the Golladay incident.. if Saquon doesn’t put the time into training camp and comes towards the end, is it possible he has to “earn “ his spot back if Gray and Breida have been putting in the time and earning it in practice?

What's up, Niko? No, I don't think the Giants will look to trade Barkley. Remember, you can't trade a player who doesn't have a signed contract, so if he has a solid year this year, he'd have to sign something in order to be traded. They have told him repeatedly that they want him on the team. It's just that the money didn't work out. 

As for Saquon losing his spot on the depth chart, I don't see that happening. Golladay was a much different case, and there were other factors that led to him falling out of favor with the coaching staff. Saquon isn't anything close to being in that same boat. 

Published
Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

Share on XFollow Patricia_Traina
Home/Big Blue+