The Giants and running back Saquon Barkley are less than five days away from signing a long-term deal. Not sure if it will be ready by 4pm on Monday At 12:00 AM ET (Eastern Time) An attempt was made to accomplish this prior to the application of the franchise tag.
The Giants offered Barkley $13 million a year, worth $26 million in the first two years, according to league sources familiar with the matter. The offer was made before the deadline to apply the franchise tag, and the club said it would withdraw the offer if the tag was applied to Barkley. Berkeley was reportedly seeking money from Christian McCaffrey. That’s about $16 million a year. The Giants wanted to sign a multi-year deal with Barkley and give quarterback Daniel Jones a franchise tag. Instead, they signed Jones and teamed up with Barkley, but so far have been unwilling to return Barkley’s $13 million annual salary offer.
Barkley is over the $10.1 million he expects to make this year from franchise bids, but his income doesn’t matter. The provision would have allowed the Giants to acquire the rights to Barkley for $10.1 million in 2023 and retain him in 2024 at a 20% increase over his 2023 salary.
Only $22.22 million over two years. Barkley are now looking to hold out in the regular season with some reserves left by Monday. After Monday, nothing he says or does will get him a long-term deal for 2023. The question now is whether the Giants will offer a mark above the minimum mark on a one-year deal, or agree not to mark him again in 2024.