Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants have hit a stalemate after failing to reach a long-term agreement by the Monday deadline designated for players under the franchise tag, according to information provided to Art Stapleton of the USA TODAY Network by a source wishing to remain anonymous due to the delicate nature of the talks.
Barkley appeared to acknowledge the situation on Twitter Monday afternoon, posting, “It is what it is.”
As a result, Barkley is now barred from signing a new deal with the Giants until the conclusion of the 2023 NFL season. He has yet to sign his franchise tag, which would guarantee him $10.1 million for the upcoming season.
Barkley has not participated in any team activities this offseason, including organized team activities and minicamp, due to being unsigned. He may consider skipping training camp but could still secure his entire salary for the season if he signs his tender before the regular season kicks off.
In a June interview with ESPN, Barkley did not rule out the possibility of sitting out the entire season if an agreement was not reached by July 17. ESPN also reported last week that Barkley’s participation in the Giants’ Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys could be doubtful without a long-term contract in place.
Barkley, 26, was a key figure in the Giants’ success last season, finishing fourth in the NFL with a personal-best 1,312 rushing yards. Selected second overall in the 2018 draft and named Offensive Rookie of the Year, Barkley contributed significantly to the Giants achieving their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2016, accounting for 27.7% of the team’s total scrimmage yards.
Despite this, when the franchise tag deadline arrived in March, the Giants finalized a four-year, $160 million contract with quarterback Daniel Jones and chose to place the franchise tag on Barkley instead.
Barkley expressed his feelings about being tagged at his AMPT football camp in June, as reported by ESPN. He mentioned his disappointment not so much about the tag itself but about the misleading and false narratives that emerged about him in the media.
The standoff between Barkley and the Giants occurs amid a broader trend of running backs being undervalued in the market. As of Monday, the only other players still on the franchise tag were running backs Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders and Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys, both of whom also did not secure long-term deals before the deadline.
Aware of the current market conditions for running backs, Barkley told ESPN in June, “I see (the running back market). I’m aware of that. I feel like I’m more than that. I feel we finally got to a place where we’re a successful team. We got to start winning games, and I was a big part of that.”
Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants did not reach a new contract agreement by the deadline for players with the franchise tag to secure multiyear deals. This development leaves Barkley without a long-term contract heading into the season. Barkley, who has yet to sign his franchise tender, is set to earn $10.1 million for the upcoming season under the tag. The Pro Bowl running back’s situation remains in limbo as he has not participated in the Giants’ offseason activities, including organized team activities and minicamp. Barkley hinted at the possibility of sitting out the entire season if a deal was not made by July 17, a situation that now puts his participation in doubt as the Giants approach their season opener.
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