Saquon Barkley Begins to Ponder His Giants Future

If New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley had his druthers, he'd be in a position where he'd not only be getting ready for an upcoming postseason run, but he'd also have his wish to be a Giant for life wrapped up by now.

Alas, for Bakrley, neither scenario is the case. The Giants, who have two games remaining in a disappointing 2023 season starting with this weekend's home contest against the Los Angeles Rams, are out of the 2023 playoff picture after taking the league by surprise last year with their 9-7-1 record.

On a personal level, Barkley's future with the team is also a looming question mark, as he is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this year.

The Giants have made no secret in the past of their desire to have Barkley as part of the long-term plans, just as Barley has made no secret of his desire to be a Giant for life.

However, last year, the two sides weren't able to get a long-term deal done to accomplish that shared objective, leaving Barkley with having to play on a modified franchise tag, equalling the APY he reportedly received in his last contract offer that his side rejected before the July 18 deadline.

This year, the Giants could put the franchise tag on Barkley yet again, something that the running back is sure not to want to happen, given how vocal he was about it last year when he got it. But that might be the only way, absent the two sides agreeing on the soon-to-be 27-year-old's long-term value.

Barkley didn't address that possibility when he recently spoke with reporters, but he did admit that thoughts about his future have crossed his mind.

"Me knowing that the future is kind of unknown, it definitely crosses your mind, but I just try to take in every moment and just enjoy my time and go out there and compete with my teammates," he said Thursday.

"That's kind of the mindset that I've been having. The future is uncertain. My contract situation last year was a hot topic, but I feel like whenever that happens, I'll worry about that then. So, just live in the moment, take care of these last few games, and focus on the Rams first."

Barkley, who last year reportedly turned down a contract offer worth as much as $14 million per year, likely nows that with another year's worth of mileage on his body that included yet another lower-body injury, his chances of getting a deal that would put him in the top two or three paid at his position aren't favorable.

But as with anything else, he's focused on what he can control for the time being: his own performance and goal of reaching his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season in six years.

"Definitely would be an important thing," said Barkley, who needs just 123 rushing yards in these last two games to reach that milestone. "I feel like it's a big thing, 1,000 yards, and maybe even more. A year like this, where we had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of adversity and me being injured and missing a couple of games, I feel like it definitely wouldn't hurt with the things I want to accomplish in my career."

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