Saquon Barkley and Giants Cannot Agree to Long-Term Deal

Why It Matters: Barkley is likely one of the greatest at his place.

A two-time Pro Bowl choice, Barkley has been a mainstay of the Giants’ offense for the reason that staff drafted him No. 2 total in 2018, and he gave the staff an id because it moved on from the longtime quarterback Eli Manning.

He was named the offensive rookie of the yr in his first season, and his explosive runs helped flip him right into a face of the league, whilst ankle and knee accidents saved him out of 21 video games from 2019 by means of 2021.

Barkley bounced again final season to assist lead the Giants (9-7-1) to their first playoff look for the reason that 2016 season. Behind his 1,312 dashing yards on 295 carries (each fourth greatest within the N.F.L.) and 10 dashing touchdowns, the Giants have been a top-five dashing staff and scored 21 touchdowns on the bottom in contrast with 17 passing.

The staff’s resolution to supply Barkley the franchise tag has been some extent of debate in N.F.L. circles, with even members of the Giants’ rivals talking up on his behalf. In April, Cowboys defensive finish Micah Parsons argued on Twitter that Barkley is the centerpiece of the Giants’ offense. “The scheme on Monday morning is we well not let SAQUON BARKLEY BEAT Us!!,” he wrote, including “Pay him!”

The Background: Teams are averse to long-term offers for operating backs.

Barkley is probably going in search of a deal on par with the best earners at his job.

His four-year rookie deal was price $31.19 million and the staff picked up his choice for $7.2 million final season.

Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers has the highest common wage for a operating again at $16 million, and Alvin Kamara of the Saints is incomes $15 million. Derrick Henry of the Titans, Nick Chubb of the Browns and Joe Mixon of the Bengals every earn no less than $12 million per yr on their offers.

Barkley scoffed at a report last week that mentioned he sought $16 million yearly and has continued to load social media accounts with pictures from his low season exercises.

But he could also be negotiating exhausting for each his private recreation and to drive higher market worth for operating backs, whose common compensation has been declining.

“The trend right now is not to pay running backs, so everyone is like, ‘OK, we don’t have to do it either then,’” Chargers operating again Austin Ekeler mentioned, including that it could take a prime performer to maintain out or signal a giant long-term deal to reverse the development.

Josh Jacobs of the Raiders and Tony Pollard of the Cowboys additionally failed to attain long-term offers with their groups and are anticipated to play underneath the franchise tag, the typical wage of the highest 5 gamers at that participant’s place. The determine for operating backs pales compared to the cash for quarterbacks ($32.4 million this yr), offensive linemen ($18.24 million) and even tight ends ($11.35 million).

What’s Next

If Barkley accepts the Giants’ tag, the 2 sides can’t negotiate a long-term deal till after the top of the common season.

If he doesn’t settle for the tag, Barkley can maintain out and not play. He wouldn’t be docked pay for lacking coaching camp dates however he would lose out on paychecks if have been to sit out of video games. The Giants might additionally rescind the franchise tag, a extremely unlikely transfer that might make Barkley an unrestricted free agent.

The extra doubtless final result: Barkley holds out quickly to make recognized his displeasure recognized however finally ends up reporting to camp. He has repeatedly mentioned he’d like to retire as a Giant and shifted his illustration to facilitate negotiations. He is presently represented by Kim Miale of Roc Nation and Ed Perry of Creative Artists Agency.

When the common season is completed, the Giants and Barkley can decide up talks that may doubtless finish in a deal getting completed. He has been a stabilizing persona in a locker room that has seen three totally different head coaches in Barkley’s tenure, and the staff’s reliance on the operating assault of Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones gained’t be diminished any time quickly.