This Team Could Challenge Giants for Saquon Barkley's Services

The New York Giants say they would like to have running back Saquon Barkley, a pending unrestricted free agent, remain with them. For his part, Barkley has consistently expressed a desire to remain a Giant.

But in the end, a third party could come along and spoil any hope of Barkley spending his entire career with the only NFL team he's ever played for, and that team is the Houston Texans, a team that per NFL insider Aaron Wilson, Barkley has targeted as a potential destination.

The Texans reportedly believe they are one running back way from completing a top-notch offensive skill position group that includes quarterback C.J. Stroud and receivers Tank Dell and Nico Collins.

The Texans are reportedly eyeing the free agency market rather than the draft because they hope to hit the ground running next year with a seasoned back rather than a rookie who might not be as up to speed in all the nuances of the program, such as pass blocking.

Barkley, along with Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, is among the top running backs set to hit the market later this month. Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters at the combine that the plan was to sit with Barkley's agent, Ed Berry of CAA, this week in Indianapolis to see if they couldn't work out a new deal before the start of free agency.

But unless Barkley has instructed Berry to only negotiate with the Giants--a highly unlikely scenario--it is not a given that the two sides will get a deal done before the start of free agency, especially if Berry and Barkley want to see if there is a market for his services willing to pony up an amount closer to Barkley's expectations.

From a cap perspective, Houston is in the best position cap-wise to lure Barkley away from the Giants. Stroud, Dell, and Collins are all on their respective rookie deals, plus Houston has a whopping $67,346,290 of cap space to spend if they feel they are just one or two players away from making a Super Bowl run.

From Barkley's perspective, Houston over the Giants would make sense because Texas is one of nine states that doesn't require state income taxes. That alone would mean that if Barkley were to sign there, he'd take home more of his pay rather since he wouldn't be subjected to the higher end of New Jersey's 1.4 and 10.75 percent state income tax range.

As a bonus for Barkley, who has several active national endorsement deals, the money earned from those combined with a new football contract would potentially give him the financial security he has sought since last year, his first exposure to free agency.

Spotrac has projected a three-year, $29,928,690 contract for Barkley based on his market value. With that kind of deal, he could be looking at approximately $20 million guaranteed, which would be well above the $11.9 million franchise tag amount that both sides would use as a starting point in negotiating the guaranteed money.

This, of course, is all contingent on the Giants not using the franchise tag to stop Barkley from walking out the door. Schoen told reporters that he would rather not have to use the franchise tag every year but noted it's a tool he has at his disposal if he wants to get a draft pick or two in return for the running back.

NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that the Giants and Barkley's agent had a "good (initial) meeting" on Wednesday and that among the discussions was the team being open to multiple options," including memorializing Barkley’s potential legacy as a NY Giant, pending an agreement on mutual terms."

. The deadline for the franchise tag is March 5.

I’m told the #Giants and RB Saquon Barkley’s representatives had a ‘good (initial) meeting’ on Wednesday at the Scouting Combine, per source.

My understanding is, the team remains open to multiple options, including memorializing Barkley’s potential legacy as a NY Giant,… pic.twitter.com/Eu0HI7WOp4
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 29, 2024

https://x.com/JosinaAnderson/status/1763349898705993999?s=20

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