Saquon Barkley, Giants Agree to 1-Year Deal

The deal will boost Barkley's earnings a little beyond the $10.1 million franchise tag amount.

Crisis averted, as the New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley have agreed to terms on a one-year contract that could be worth upwards of $11 million with incentives.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Barkley's new deal includes the $10.1 million franchise tag amount that's fully guaranteed, including a $2 million upfront signing bonus and $1 million of incentives to be split over rushing yards (1350), touchdowns (11) and receptions (65).

“Obviously, we are glad we were able to work things out with Saquon,” said general manager Joe Schoen in a statement released by the team. “We all recognize the player and person Saquon is and what he means to our team. He is a good teammate, a leader, and a really good player. We are looking forward to getting on the field tomorrow.”

Last season, Barkley gained 1,312 rushing yards and recorded 10 touchdowns and 57 receptions.

Regarding Saquon/Giants;

A player getting more money on a 1 year deal is extremely rare. The last time it happened was 2005 when the Colts gave Edgerrin James the ability to earn more money on a one year deal in incentives. What the parties agreed to this morning rarely…

— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) July 25, 2023

The incentives all fall under the "not likely to be earned" category, which means they won't count against the Giants' 2023 cap, but it will count against 2024 if Barkley earns them.

Barkley also did not receive a promise from the Giants that they would not use the franchise tag on him again in 2024. That concession had been a possibility, but from the Giants' perspective, not a wise one to use until the team saw what it had in camp at the position.

Reaching a deal with their star running back, he assures that Barkley will be on the field on Wednesday for the team's first practice and avoids a potential summer-long distraction for his teammates and coaches.

---

• Get the latest breaking news and analysis on the New York Giants
• Follow and like us on Facebook
• Submit your questions for our mailbag
• Check out the Giants Country YouTube Channel.
• Subscribe and like the LockedOn Giants YouTube Channel
• Sign up for our FREE message board forums
• Connect with us via text alerts! Free 14 Day Trial!