Even though he grew up rooting for the New York Jets, if you ask Saquon Barkley today, he’ll tell you there’s no other team he’d prefer to play for than the New York Giants. This is a player who’s always been loyal to the team who selected him second overall back in 2018.
Yet, the Giants, while they obviously haven’t been quick to get rid of Barkley, also haven’t been eager to offer him a massive contract that he feels he’s earned. Last year’s contract negotiations dragged on after the Giants slapped the franchise tag on him (something Barkley expressed strong distaste for). Ultimately the Giants and Barkley found a resolution by slightly increasing his pay, offering up to $900K more in incentives.
Now it’s time to address Barkley’s contract again, and the Giants won’t be resorting to the franchise tag for the second season in a row. Barkley had a fine season, reaching 1,242 yards from scrimmage for a Giants offense that had little to celebrate, but is he worth over $10 million in a shrinking RB market?
That’s the question both Barkley’s representatives and the Giants will need to find an answer to later this offseason, but now there’s a sense he could be entertaining outside offers, something he didn’t get the chance to do last year.
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Philadelphia Eagles, Saquon Barkley share mutual interest
Saquon Barkley is set for unrestricted free agency for the first time in his six-year NFL career, which means this is his first chance to pick which team he wants to play for. While his top choice is likely to remain with the New York Giants, it’s possible team GM Joe Schoen prefers to spend their estimated $41 million in cap space elsewhere.
That’s fine. It won’t be tough for the two-time Pro Bowl running back to find work elsewhere. It could even lead him to join a division rival, like the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom Ryan Dunleavy shares a mutual interest in working out a contract with Barkley.
Barkley departing New York for Philadelphia would be a big surprise. In part because they’re one of New York’s biggest rivals but also because if he helps the Eagles reach the next step as contenders, it would make the Giants look bad for not seeing his value.
However, like everything in free agency, it will all come down to the dollar amount, and if the Giants and Barkley don’t see eye to eye on contract value, another team will. Possibly even the Eagles.
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