As of now, New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley is still without a contract.
The team used their franchise tag on him earlier this offseason, and he has only a few days to negotiate a new contract or simply agree to play out the 2023 campaign on that franchise tag.
Barkley reportedly does not want to play on the franchise tag, which means the clock may be ticking on his future with the team.
Reportedly, the Giants made him the highest offer ever, $19.5 million in guaranteed money, but insider Jordan Ranan says $22 million is the “magic number” to potentially get the deal done.
Keep saying that the magic number is $22M. #giants did not reach there. And so here we are. Last date is four days away. https://t.co/TpUbYiNmvu
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) 13 July 2023
Barkley is the only real threat to New York, and if he’s gone, they’ll be in a world of trouble with almost no hope of making the playoffs in the near future.
He struggled with injuries in 2019, 2020 and 2021, but came back in strong fashion in 2022, posting 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while appearing in 16 of 17 regular season games.
However, the market for running backs in the NFL has plummeted over the past decade or so, and even the best of the best don’t make the same big bucks as quarterbacks and wide receivers.
The Giants are in a unique position, as they lack productive wide receivers and are thus more reliant on Barkley than most teams.
The next few days will be crucial when it comes to their hopes of doing something remarkable this fall and winter.
next:
The Giants Are Making A Remarkable Change At Home This Season