While the New York Giants did not give star running back Saquon Barkley the long-term deal he was hoping for, he was given a pay raise and bonus in 2023 that will ease some of his contract frustrations for next season.
The drama between Pro Bowler Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants has been one of the biggest stories in the NFL as training camps open around the league. Similar to the situation going on between fellow star back Josh Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders, Barkley wants to be compensated long-term for his impressive play last season and in previous years.
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However, after turning down two extension offers in 2022, and a substantially diminished market for running backs in the league, the 26-year-old had little leverage in negotiations with the team. That is until he threatened the nuclear option of possibly sitting out of training camp and maybe even the 2023 NFL season.
New York Giants give Saquon Barkley chance to make as much as $11 million in 2023
Well, on Tuesday morning the New York Giants and the heart of their offense avoided a dark cloud hanging over their season by coming to terms on an adjusted contract. Saquon Barkley was set to earn just over $10 million if he was willing to play on the 2023 franchise tag for running backs. NFL media league insider Ian Rapoport reported today that he and the organization have “agreed to terms on a new 1-year deal worth up to $11 million.”
- Saquon Barkley contract: 1-year – $10.09M base, $910,000 incentives, and $2M signing bonus
The adjusted contract for this season will reportedly also include a $2 million signing bonus for the two-time Pro Bowler. As NBC Sports NFL reporter Albert Breer explained after the news, essentially Barkley is playing on the planned franchise tag for “$10.09 million as its base value ($2 million of that is in a signing bonus), with $910,000 in incentives” that could take it up to $11 million.
While it is not what he wanted and it is unclear if it means he will avoid being tagged again next season, it at least ends the issues between the two sides and means he will be in New York Giants training camp this week and focused on helping the team take another big step forward in 2023.