After their surprisingly successful 2022 season, the New York Giants had to find a way to retain arguably two of their best and most valuable players: quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.
Jones was offered a lucrative new contract, while Barkley received the team’s franchise tag to stay with them while a new deal is being worked out.
According to Giants insider Jordan Ranan, the team is in no rush to sign a new contract with Barkley.
#giants Not highly motivated to enter into any long term deals at this point of time. The franchise tag of $10.1M is a very good deal for the teams.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) April 12, 2023
Running backs, even ones as prolific and talented as Barkley, aren’t nearly as valuable as they were a generation ago, and so he may not end up getting as much money as he might like.
But there’s no doubt that, along with Jones, he is the face of the Giants’ offense.
After slowing down due to injuries in 2020 and 2021, Barkley bounced back last season, rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards while scoring 10 touchdowns and earning his second Pro Bowl selection.
He also finished third in voting for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award, which eventually went to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
While the Giants’ running attack was strong in 2022 thanks to Barkley and Jones, they needed more firepower in the air.
Wide receiver Darius Slayton was their only player to record over 600 receiving yards, and when they brought in tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders, they needed more help in that department, especially losing wideout Odell Beckham Jr. After.
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NFL Insider Reveals Major Saquon Barkley Contract Update