JULY 13: An interesting twist to the Barkley negotiations has emerged. Ed Berry of CAA, who has long been involved in marketing for Barkley, is now involved in contract talks. Florio reports that Berry was added to the franchise-tagged star’s camp last month to provide an extra voice in negotiations. As a result, Barkley is now represented by both CAA and Roc Nation (in the form of Kim Miale) as talks are nearing the deadline-imposed finish line.
Meanwhile, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports that the Giants’ best offer to date included $19.5MM in guaranteed money (Twitter link). Consecutive franchise tags would equate to $22.2M in guaranteed money, so it comes as little surprise that Barkley would turn down such a proposal.
JULY 12: In one of the more eventful stretches for a team and the franchise tag in recent NFL history, the Giants have until 3pm CT Monday to extend Saquon Barkley. As the deadline nears, this situation reminds of their point-of-no-return situation with Barkley and Daniel Jones in March.
Prior to that point, the Giants had made a second offer to Barkley — a deal worth more than $13MM per year. The five-year veteran declined the proposal, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting the talented running back sought a contract in the $16MM-per-year neighborhood. That would have matched Christian McCaffrey‘s position-record average, which has stood as the top running back contract since April 2020.
[RELATED: Jones’ Asking Price Reached $47MM Per Year]
The Giants informed Barkley that a declined offer would mean the proposal would be pulled if the team tagged him. The subsequent Jones agreement — a four-year, $160MM accord reached minutes before the March deadline for teams to apply franchise tags — led to the Giants following through with that plan/threat, tagging Barkley and withdrawing their best offer. While the parties have continued off-and-on negotiations during the spring and summer, they are believed to be at an impasse.
Earlier this offseason, a report suggested Barkley was pushing for a top-market contract. Barkley, however, said following the Giants’ divisional-round loss to the Eagles he was not looking to reset the market. Pushback has since come out regarding Wednesday afternoon’s report.
The Giants’ offer is believed to have included $26MM in the first two years, per Florio. Only two veteran backs (McCaffrey and Derrick Henry) are tied to guarantees north of $20MM. It does not seem like all $26MM in Barkley’s offer was locked in, with insufficient guarantees being an issue for the running back’s camp. Indeed, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy notes the offer did not include $26MM guaranteed. Barkley also disputes this report (Twitter links). A $16MM-AAV ask never seemed realistic to the standout back, Jordan Raanan adds (on Twitter).
Even if Barkley is angling for McCaffrey-level money, a case exists for it. However, that case was stronger before the carnage at the running back position this offseason. On one hand, the salary cap has climbed since McCaffrey’s four-year, $64MM Panthers extension; the cap stood at $198.2MM at that point. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic reducing the salary ceiling in 2021, it has rebounded to $224.8MM this year. OverTheCap lists $256MM as the projected 2024 ceiling. The cap spiking by $32MM between 2023 and ’24 will lead to position-record deals; will a team be willing to authorize one at running back?
Since Barkley was first connected to $16MM-AAV territory, two of the top four RB contracts (for Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook) have been shed. The Packers and Aaron Jones agreed to a pay cut that provided more 2023 guarantees; the Bengals have been connected to asking Joe Mixon to accept a trim. No free agent back signed for more than $6.35MM per year, and Austin Ekeler‘s trade request — which came about because he is tied to a Chargers-friendly extension ($6.13MM per annum) — did not spark much interest. During a mostly uninterrupted period of the league devaluing running backs, 2023 has brought a widespread bloodbath.
Then again, free agency was not a true representation of the RB market, since the three tagged backs — Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard — were not available. Barkley, 26, also means more to the Giants than most backs do to their respective teams, seeing as Big Blue recently extended a middling quarterback and has question marks at wide receiver and tight end. It will be interesting to see what other terms are thrown around before Monday’s deadline. Given the frequency of Barkley-related updates this offseason, it seems likely we will find out the particulars.
Let him sit out at his own risk.
Kareem Hunt, Zeke, Playoff Lenny, and Dalvin Cook, all need jobs.
Would Cook sign with the Giants for the same money Barkley turned down?
It solves the Dalvin situation and it solves the Giants RB problem. Cook would get to be the 3-down back and he would get roughly $12 million a year. Everyone is happy.
Agreed. Saquon remains too much of an injury risk. Time to move on for Schoen and the NYG.
Sure, get rid of homegrown talent so you can sign a journeyman for the same amount.
So In that scenario whomever signs Barkley is also signing a journeyman?
Chucky is just a Jets fan who comes to every article relating to the Giants to fire off hate and idiocy. At least he’s stopped mentioning the boat trip.
The Giants had a pretty good season in 2022 using homegrown talent and smart pick-ups. Their major problem was going 0-5 vs. Dallas and Philadelphia (and getting whupped in 3 of those games).
Not only that, Brian Daboll was anointed coach of the year because New York.
The giants with hunt and Lenny would be dangerous and they wouldn’t break the bank. Is anyone making a move for cook or Barkley right now with their price tags?
Ordinarily I’d agree with you. The RB market is way down. But I think Barkley is a game changer and a cut above all the RBs mentioned here. He just is. The other guys would need time to adjust to a new system that already fits him like a glove.
The oddest thing about this stalemate is that the Giants have been overpaying everyone else this off-season. Personally I think Barkley should have signed a short deal like Brady’s last NE deal, i.e., Barkley could opt out for free agency after one year (w/no tag allowed) if he performs well. The Giants would get another year at a reasonable price and Barkley would get a real chance at testing the free agent market in 2024.
“The oddest thing about this stalemate is that the Giants have been overpaying everyone else this off-season.”
I mean, the Giants rumored offer of $12-13 million/year over 3-4 years would also have been an overpay. Only Barkley didn’t take it.
I wouldn’t mind Dalvin Cook coming to the Giants. I still think he ends up in Dallas replacing Zeke.
You can’t call any contract an “overpay” until you see how the player performed AFTER he took the money.
I’ll go out on a limb and say Daniel Jones was overpaid
Adios
I wonder if he would do something like a 4 year, $40 million dollar deal, with the first 3 seasons guaranteed and no cap hit/real money if they cut him to start year 4. If not, they should cut bait on him right now and get Cook or Hunt in.
Didn’t we all read that Barkley wasn’t interested in McCaffrey $$ territory?
Guess he’s trying to do the “best for his family”!
McCaffrey is the better RB. He’s not going to get more.