2023 July - Pro Football Rumors

Month: December 2024

Saquon Barkley Addresses Giants Negotiations, Prospect Of Missing Games

July 19th, 2023 at 4:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

After the Giants and Saquon Barkley spent the past eight months in sporadic extension talks, the Pro Bowl running back will be forced to play this season on a $10.1MM franchise tag. Barkley joins Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard in this boat during a turbulent stretch for the running back position.

The Giants and Barkley came within approximately $2MM — both in AAV and guarantees — of hammering out a deal. As RB value dropped this offseason, Barkley and Jacobs are not expected to report to their respective training camps. Barkley has now referenced the prospect of sitting out regular-season games on multiple occasions.

During a podcast appearance days before the Monday’s tag deadline, the Giants back outlined his thought process regarding his absence lasting into the regular season.

“I have no worry about going on a football field and knowing that I’m not playing for my worth or saying if I have to play, because this is my leverage: my leverage is I could say f*** you to the Giants,” Barkley said during an appearance on The Money Matters Podcast with Jack Mallers (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard). “I could say f*** you to my teammates and be like, ‘You want me to show you my worth? You want me to show how valuable I am to the team? I won’t show up. I won’t play a down. And that’s a play I can use.

“Anybody [who] knows me knows that’s not something I want to do. But is that something that’s crossed my mind? I never thought I would ever do that, but now I’m at a point where it’s like ‘Jesus, like, I might have to take it to this level.’ Am I willing and prepared to take it to the level? I don’t know.”

None of Barkley’s options at this point include money beyond 2023. He has not signed the $10.1MM franchise tender, allowing for a camp no-show without a fine. He addressed the subject of a Le’Veon Bell-like move earlier this summer, and a recent report reintroduced the prospect of skipping at least Week 1. Barkley would lose out on $561K for each game missed, but seeing as the former No. 2 overall pick resides in a different NFL tax bracket compared to Jacobs or Pollard due to banking $38MM-plus from 2018-22, missing games to punish the Giants and remove the risk of injury and wear and tear is more realistic in this case.

“[Missing games is] something I gotta sit down and talk to my family [about],” Barkley said. “I gotta sit down and talk to my team, gotta really strategize about this. I can’t just go off of emotions … But I am at a place where if I do go on the field and have to play and prove again, I’m fine with that.”

The only upside of a Barkley in-season absence would be limiting mileage and better positioning himself for a free agency bid in 2024. Barkley logged 352 touches in 2018 and 2022, and injury- and talent-based questions about the Giants’ receiving corps positions the sixth-year running back as a cornerstone player in 2023 as well. While Bell took considerable heat for passing on a $14.5MM franchise tag in 2018, the Jets gave him a four-year, $52.5MM deal ($27MM guaranteed) in 2019. The current RB market does not suggest a windfall would await Barkley next year, and the Giants could tag him again at barely $12MM. But the Penn State product is running out of time to score a lucrative veteran contract.

Barkley, 26, can also attempt to use the threat of missed games to entice the Giants to add a clause that prohibits a second tag in 2024. This staring contest may last a bit, with Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline adding Barkley feels disrespected and will be ready to stay away from his team for a “significant” time period.

Barkley assessed the contract negotiations — at least those that occurred before last weekend — and indicated a conversation with John Mara prompted him to intervene during the sides’ winter talks. But after the Giants franchise-tagged Barkley, they pulled a contract offer. The sides’ talks before this week’s deadline brought the guarantee total toward $22MM but dropped the AAV below $12MM. Although the Mara talks did not produce a deal, Pauline adds second-year GM Joe Schoen communicated to Barkley and Daniel Jones of a likelihood of the player not extended in March would have a real chance of playing on the tag. The Giants made Jones their top offseason priority and extended him (four years, $160MM) minutes before the March deadline to tag players.

“That was the only time I really got involved in the negotiation process,” Barkley said. “I sat down with the owner. The owner told me what it was, told me how they care about me. And this is when we were still going tit for tat [with offers] … The owner opened up to me, and I respected that.

“’I let you [Mara] know how much I feel about this place, how much I feel about your family, … how much I feel about [Steve] Tisch’s family.’ That’s when I picked up the phone and I called my agent and I was like, ‘I don’t care; let’s get it done. Like boom, this is where I want to be, this is the number I’m fine with, boom, let’s get there.’ … When you get tagged, now they have the tag, now it’s like, ‘You know what Saquon? If we really want to, we don’t have to offer you anything.'”

Previously accusing the Giants of providing dishonest information about his contract desires via leaks, Barkley also accused the team of comparing him to backs with inferior receiving skillsets. To be fair, the Giants have not used Barkley’s receiving chops too much since Pat Shurmur‘s exit; his last 400-plus-yard aerial season came in 2019.

“I’m not even asking for what I’m worth,” Barkley said of his goal before the deadline. “Because I just told you I’m the best running back in the NFL. But I’m not going to war for that. In the negotiation process, I’m not going to war for that.

“For me, I was like, you know what, I can go there, I can go to war, try to get as much money as I can, but at the end of the day, what really matters is winning, and winning a championship. And I know if I’m able to help bring a championship to New York, that’s going to go miles more ahead than this contract.”

Due to tag rules, Barkley contract talks cannot commence again until January 2024. The New Jersey native’s comments just before the tag deadline indicated he wanted to stay with the Giants for the rest of his career. It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out now that the extension talks have ceased.

Jets Place Chuck Clark On IR, Stash Breece Hall On Active/PUP List

July 19th, 2023 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chuck Clark will not make a late-season comeback for the Jets. After suffering an ACL tear in June, Clark landed on the Jets’ injured reserve list Wednesday.

Since the Jets are not carrying Clark over to their 53-man roster, this IR move will end his season. It would have represented a long shot for the veteran safety to return this year anyway, and this transaction buries that notion. The Jets also placed receiver/returner hopeful Diontae Spencer on IR.

The Jets traded for Clark, 28, in March and were preparing to use him as a full-time player alongside Jordan Whitehead. Clark’s knee injury prompted the team to bring in yet another ex-Packer, Adrian Amos, to fill that role. Amos had received interest from the Ravens, visiting his hometown team twice. But the Jets suddenly having a clear need helped them land the eight-year starter.

Upon acquiring Clark, the Jets took on his three-year, $15.3MM Ravens contract. Only one season remained on the deal, and rather than the former Baltimore starter playing his way into a nice Jets extension, a trip to free agency coming off a severe injury may be in the cards.

Gang Green also placed Breece Hall on its active/PUP list. Unlike the reserve/PUP list, this is a training camp-only designation. Players can be removed from the active/PUP list at any point during camp. The Jets also placed Randall Cobb, C.J. Uzomah and defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse on the active/PUP list.

Hall suffered a torn ACL in October of last year, but the Jets have maintained the second-year running back will be ready for Week 1. A delayed start to camp will be part of the former second-rounder’s ramp-up period. New York has been connected to Dalvin Cook for an extended stretch, with Hall’s recovery likely a factor in the team’s pursuit of the accomplished ex-Viking. The Dolphins and Patriots are also interested in Cook, though New England worked out two more affordable options — Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson — on Wednesday.

Patriots Work Out RB Leonard Fournette, Darrell Henderson

July 19th, 2023 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:56pm: Darrell Henderson also took part in this workout, Pelissero adds (on Twitter). The former Ram’s market has been just as quiet as Fournette’s this offseason. The Jaguars waived Henderson shortly after claiming him late last year. Henderson does have two 600-plus-yard rushing seasons on his resume and operated as the Rams’ starting back for much of their Super Bowl LVI-winning season.

But the former third-round pick is coming off a down contract year, one in which he gained just 385 scrimmage yards and did not see action after being claimed by the Jags.

11:54am: The Patriots met with Leonard Fournette during his 2022 free agency stay. Nearly 18 months later, the sides will huddle up again. Fournette is set to work out for the Pats on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

New England has been kicking the tires on running back depth, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, and has been in the Dalvin Cook mix for a bit now. Fournette’s market is not expected to reach the Cook level, opening the door to a lower-cost Pats addition at the position.

Fournette, 28, met with the Patriots in March 2022 but ended up back with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $21MM deal. Fournette and the Bucs mutually parted ways in March of this year, but not much has come out regarding the former top-five pick’s market since. Fournette joins the likes of Cook, Ezekiel Elliott and Kareem Hunt as notable RBs in free agency.

A former No. 4 overall Jaguars pick, Fournette served as the centerpiece of an offense that faced the Patriots in the 2017 AFC championship game. Three years later, Fournette came on late to make major contributions in the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV-winning season. Tampa Bay rewarded Fournette with contracts in 2021 and ’22. The latter deal included $12MM guaranteed. That contract was in line with what the Cardinals gave James Conner last spring, but this offseason brought a market crash at running back. This market sits in a strange place after numerous cost-cutting measures — and Monday’s lack of extensions for three franchise-tagged players — reduced the position’s standing further.

Adding Fournette would seemingly remove the Pats from the Cook market. It is worth wondering if recent events will impact Cook offers as well. But Fournette will be in Foxborough today, exploring a possible partnership with a third NFL team.

The Bucs ranked last in rushing in 2022; Fournette’s yards per carry dropped by a full yard. The LSU product had averaged 4.5 per tote in 2021, but as just about everything on the Bucs’ offense worsened last year, the team’s starting back averaged a 3.5 yards per handoff. Fournette totaled 1,191 scrimmage yards, however, contributing a career-high 523 through the air. Earning the “Playoff Lenny” alias for his work during the Bucs’ Super Bowl march, Fournette finished with 448 scrimmage yards in the team’s four 2020 playoff games. Prior to a hamstring injury that shut Fournette down in Week 15 of the 2021 season, he totaled 1,266 scrimmage yards as the Bucs’ lead back.

Rhamondre Stevenson resides as the Pats’ starter, with Kyed adding Pierre Strong has a chance to solidify the No. 2 role. But the team being connected to multiple big-name backs could impede the second-year player’s RB2 quest. Stevenson’s status as the team’s starter, especially after Damien Harris‘ free agency exit, should not be considered in jeopardy at this point. But the team may be set to bring in a proven back to complement him soon.

Packers Sign Round 2 TE Luke Musgrave

July 19th, 2023 at 3:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The number of unsigned draft picks is dwindling, as teams make their final preparations for training camp. Second-round Packers draftee Luke Musgrave signed his four-year rookie deal Wednesday.

Green Bay chose the Oregon State-developed tight end 42nd overall. This contract follows the Saints’ agreement with No. 40 overall pick Isaiah Foskey, with New Orleans’ terms breaking some ice for players chosen in the middle of the second round. As second-rounders keep making guarantee inroads, their respective negotiations have become more complicated.

The Panthers guaranteed three first three years of No. 39 pick Jonathan Mingo‘s deal, with additional guarantees in Year 4. Foskey and Musgrave’s agents undoubtedly pushed for the same terms. It is not yet known if either received them, but both are now signed. Musgrave will be expected to vie for immediate playing time, given the Packers’ tight end situation.

Green Bay let Robert Tonyan sign with Chicago in March, and Marcedes Lewis remains a free agent. A four-year Packers starter who remains one of the game’s best blocking tight ends, Lewis has said he wants to become the first tight end to play an 18th season. The Packers are not expected to re-sign him, opening the door for Musgrave and third-rounder Tucker Kraft as rookies.

The nephew of veteran NFL assistant Bill Musgrave, Luke Musgrave played four seasons with the Beavers. He was the fourth tight end selected this year, behind Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta and Michael Mayer. Musgrave did not deliver prolific stats at the Pac-12 school, topping out at 304 receiving yards in a season (2021). But an early-season knee injury cut his senior year short.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated Musgrave, who impressed at the Senior Bowl, as this year’s No. 31 overall prospect. The Packers saw enough from the small sample size — receiving-wise, at least — to make the 6-foot-5 pass catcher a key component of their first Jordan Love-directed offense. As of now, Love will be targeting a host of first- and second-year players, with Tonyan, Lewis, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb out of the picture.

Ravens To Meet With Dawuane Smoot

July 19th, 2023 at 12:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dealt a tough break in a Jaguars contract year, Dawuane Smoot is on track to start taking visits. Coming off a December Achilles tear, the veteran edge defender has landed on the Ravens’ radar.

Smoot will visit Baltimore early next week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Ravens again feature questions at their outside linebacker spot, and they will look into Smoot, whom Rapoport adds has fared well on his rehab journey.

The Jags had Smoot on a second contract, and the former third-round pick had served as a key auxiliary pass rusher for the improving team. But the tear both ended a solid season and hurt Smoot’s free agency market. Going into his age-28 season, the veteran sack artist will look for a bounce-back opportunity.

Smoot went down during a Thursday-night game against the Jets on Dec. 22. Prior to that injury, the six-year Jaguar had totaled five sacks and 12 QB hits. Smoot registered between five and six sacks each year from 2019-22, remaining a key cog in Jacksonville’s defense despite the organization shuffling through three defensive coordinators in the past three years. Smoot combined for 33 QB hits from 2020-21, signing a two-year, $10MM Jags deal during that span.

The Ravens have some intriguing options on the edge, but their 2022 sack leader — Justin Houston — is unsigned. Odafe Oweh headlines Baltimore’s OLB contingent, though the former first-round pick has not lived up to the draft slot just yet. The Ravens should expect more production from 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo this season, seeing as the ex-Michigan standout spent most of last year rehabbing an Achilles tear. Tyus Bowser also remains with the Ravens, who have not shown an issue bringing Houston in late in an offseason. Both of Houston’s Ravens agreements have come during the summer. Jason Pierre-Paul, an in-season addition last year, is also a free agent.

It has been a bit since the Ravens entered training camp with a locked-in OLB group. The team traded for Yannick Ngakoue to complement Matt Judon in 2020. Since both players left during the 2021 free agency period, a stretch of uncertainty followed. After five rookie-year sacks, Oweh totaled three in 17 games last season. With the Ravens needing to make a fifth-year option call by May 2024, Oweh will be facing a critical stretch.

Saints Sign Round 2 DE Isaiah Foskey, Wrap Draft Class Deals

July 19th, 2023 at 10:17am CST by Sam Robinson

Add the Saints to the list of teams to complete their draft class signings. Second-round defensive end Isaiah Foskey signed his rookie contract Wednesday morning.

The Saints added Foskey with the No. 40 overall pick in April. The terms of this contract will be of interest to the lot of players drafted immediately after Foskey, as this sector of the second round represents the largest unsigned contingent remaining.

Carolina authorizing three fully guaranteed years and a partial guarantee of Year 4 in No. 39 overall pick Jonathan Mingo‘s contract last month slowed negotiations for second-rounders. Foskey receiving similar terms will further move the needle for second-round picks, who have made steady gains on the guarantee front in the years since the 2011 CBA reorganized rookie contracts.

Foskey represents the second major D-end draft investment the Saints have made since 2021, when they drafted Payton Turner in Round 1. Turner has not developed like the team hoped he would, and the Houston alum’s roster spot may not be a lock. It would still surprise if Turner were not on the team come September, but after being a healthy scratch at points last season, the third-year pass rusher’s stock has dropped. The Saints also let Marcus Davenport walk in free agency and have their top sack artist — Jordan — going into his age-34 season.

A Notre Dame product, Foskey delivered strong production during his final two years with the storied program. He notched two 10-sack seasons in that span, totaling 20.5. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. still viewed Foskey as more of a third-round talent, slotting him 77th in this class. But the Saints disagreed and will hope the 6-foot-5 edge player can become a fixture as Jordan moves into his mid-30s.

The Saints centered their draft plan around the defensive line, taking Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee in Round 1. Here is New Orleans’ 2023 draft class:

Round 1, No. 29 (from 49ers through Dolphins and Broncos): Bryan Bresee, DT (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 40: Isaiah Foskey, DE (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 3, No. 71: Kendre Miller, RB (TCU) (signed)
Round 4, No. 103 (from Bears): Nick Saldiveri, G (Old Dominion) (signed)
Round 4, No. 127 (from Jaguars): Jake Haener, QB (Fresno State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 146: Jordan Howden, S (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 6, No. 195 (from Steelers through Broncos): A.T. Perry, WR (Wake Forest) (signed)

Browns Waive DT Perrion Winfrey

July 19th, 2023 at 9:05am CST by Sam Robinson

After a second allegation of violence against a woman surfaced, Perrion Winfrey is now on the waiver wire. The Browns cut the 2022 draft pick on Wednesday, according to a team announcement.

Winfrey is under investigation for allegedly threatening a woman with a gun Tuesday night in Cleveland, Fox 8 News reports. After Winfrey allegedly did not respond to a woman in a hotel lobby Tuesday night, Fox 8 reports the woman yelled something at the D-lineman. That prompted a threat and brandishing of a gun. Winfrey left the scene before the police arrived. No charges have been filed, but Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Winfrey is a suspect in an aggravated robbery attempt.

He had worked as a defensive tackle backup as a rookie, playing 342 defensive snaps over 13 games. The Oklahoma product was also arrested in April on a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly grabbed a woman he was dating and “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” caused her bodily harm. Winfrey, 22, allegedly grabbed Brianna Mack and pulled her with his hand.

The second-year defender’s case ended up being dismissed — after the completion of a pretrial conversion program — this summer. After another incident, however, the Browns are moving on. Three years remain on Winfrey’s rookie contract.

After making minimal investments at defensive tackle last year, the Browns struggled to defend the run. They now have a new defensive coordinator (Jim Schwartz) and a new D-tackle anchor — in ex-Giants and Vikings cog Dalvin Tomlinson. In addition to Tomlinson’s four-year, $57MM deal, the Browns used a third-round pick on a D-tackle, drafting Baylor’s Siaki Ika. The team also has fourth-year contributor Jordan Elliott, who started all 17 games at the position last season. Veterans Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill are also now with the team.

Pro Football Focus rated Winfrey and Elliott as two of the league’s worst D-tackle regulars last season, slotting each in the bottom 12 at the position. Browns coaches benched Winfrey at points due to maturity issues. The 6-foot-4 D-lineman was a healthy scratch in multiple games last season. Winfrey also landed in concussion protocol at one point, and part of the absence was related to a scooter accident.

Cowboys G Zack Martin Unhappy With Contract

July 19th, 2023 at 8:30am CST by Sam Robinson

As the guard market has topped the $20MM-per-year mark, one of this era’s premier performers has seen his contract surpassed many times over. As a result, the Cowboys may have a Zack Martin issue to navigate.

Martin remains tied to a $14MM-AAV agreement he signed back in 2018. The Cowboys have traditionally preferred long-term extensions, and players signing those run the risk of watching the market change rapidly during the contract’s lifespan. At the time of its completion, Martin’s extension set a guard record. Five years later, Martin is now the league’s eighth-highest-paid guard.

This has become a problem, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the perennial All-Pro believes he is “woefully underpaid relative to the market” (Twitter link). The future Hall of Famer is considering not reporting to Cowboys camp, per Schefter. A holdout would be a drastic step for Martin, seeing as the 2020 CBA prevents teams from waiving fines for players who avoid training camp. Two years remain on Martin’s contract. The Cowboys and Martin engaged in brief discussions at the Combine, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets, but it is clear those did not progress.

While Schefter notes the Cowboys have not shown an eagerness to restructure Martin’s deal, the sides did agree on a restructure in March and have done so several times over the past few years. But these transactions did not add any new money to the contract. With two seasons remaining on the six-year accord, it is not too surprising the Cowboys are not ready to redo the deal.

With the Cowboys long aiming to extend CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele, Martin appears to want a place near the front of the line. Martin is going into his age-33 season and running short on time to capitalize again on the elite form he has displayed. Martin’s reps have submitted a proposal that would not affect his 2023 and ’24 cap hits much, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins. He is on Dallas’ books at $11MM and $23.3MM, respectively, over the next two years.

While Martin remains tied to the deal he agreed to back in 2018, Quenton Nelson and Chris Lindstrom moved the guard market past $20MM per year. Nelson agreed to terms on a position-record extension just before last season; that deal moved the needle considerably for guards. But the Falcons blocker has already surpassed the multi-time All-Pro Colt, signing a five-year, 102.5MM accord in March. Martin ran his All-Pro count to a historic place last season, and it is unsurprising he no longer views his Cowboys terms as satisfactory.

Among pure guards, only Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel earned more first-team All-Pro honors (seven apiece) than Martin (six). Bouncing back after an injury-abbreviated 2020 season, Martin collected All-Pro accolades in each of the past two years. While Travis Frederick retired early and Tyron Smith has annually seen injuries slow him over the past several years, Martin has been the Cowboys’ cornerstone blocker during the Dak Prescott era.

The Cowboys can fine Martin $50K per day for each practice he misses. This penalty has made the holdout a thing of the past, with hold-in measures now en vogue. The Notre Dame product may consider the latter avenue as well.

The Cowboys moving on from their starting left guard in each of the past two offseasons; Connor Williams signed with the Dolphins and Connor McGovern joined the Bills. Martin has been Dallas’ interior constant, but five summers after he gave the team six additional years of control, it appears the organization will have another key contractual matter to consider during what shapes up as an interesting training camp through this lens.

Rams COO: Team Was “Not Actively Trying To Trade” Matthew Stafford

July 18th, 2023 at 9:25pm CST by Ben Levine

We heard earlier this month that the Rams tried to trade Matthew Stafford towards the beginning of the league year. After they failed to find a taker, the organization decided to pick up the QB’s 2023 option bonus and his 2024 salary, a decision that guaranteed just under $60MM of the player’s contract.

The team is now fully committed to Stafford for at least next season, and the organization is naturally doing some damage control when it comes to the trade rumors. For instance, Rams COO Kevin Demoff has made it clear that the organization continues to be committed to their quarterback. During an appearance on The Athletic’s “11 Personnel” podcast, Demoff was adamant that the Rams never considered trading their Super Bowl-winning signal caller.

“Those conversations frustrated me because I think it’s trying to inject narratives that aren’t there,” Demoff said (h/t to The Rams Wire). “I know there are reports that we tried to trade Matthew. We were not actively trying to trade Matthew. I know Les has rebuffed that before. It’s just not the case.

“I think if you wanted to be in the reality of the NFL, there are 10 teams this year, at least, that are going to have different quarterbacks. We were obviously aggressive in remaking our roster in March. It would be naive to think that people didn’t inquire about what was going to happen with the player who the year before won the Super Bowl. It’s different than whether people inquire, whether there are casual conversations.”

It’s easy for Demoff to say this now with the organization seemingly committed to Stafford, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if the executive is being sincere. After all, few teams would have had interest in Stafford for the same hypothetical reasons that the Rams would have been shopping him in the first place.

The veteran quarterback had a rough 2022 campaign that doesn’t necessarily justify his upcoming payments in 2023 and 2024 (including a whopping $49.5MM during that latter season). It’s unlikely that any team would have willingly made that kind of financial commitment to Stafford, no matter how bad they needed a QB.

Fortunately for the Rams, Stafford entered the team’s offseason program without any medical restrictions. So, from a health perspective, it appears that he will be better positioned for success in 2023 than he was in 2022.

Giants, Saquon Barkley Were Close To Deal

July 18th, 2023 at 9:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saquon Barkley headlined the list of running backs who were unable to negotiate a long-term deal ahead of yesterday’s deadline, leaving them to play out the season on the franchise tag. Talks between he and the Giants nearly produced an agreement.

The two parties came within roughly $1-$2MM of reaching an agreement on the matter of both annual compensation and guaranteed money, as detailed by Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post and corroborated (on Twitter) by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The Giants’ final offer made in advance of the deadline was a three-year contract with an AAV of between $11MM and $11.5MM and $22-23MM in guarantees, per Dunleavy.

Barkley and the Giants had engaged in few contract talks in the weeks leading up to yesterday, but they circled back in an effort to come to terms. Given their inability to bridge the relatively small gap which existed – Dunleavy adds that both parties felt they had conceded as much as they could – the 26-year-old is now faced with the proposition of earning $10.1MM on the tag this season or sitting out regular season games and costing himself $560K per week in the process.

At the trade deadline in the 2022 season, Barkley seemed to a higher priority for the Giants than quarterback Daniel Jones. It was the latter who was the preferred target of a long-term deal by March, however, and the team’s ability to come to terms on a contract just before the deadline to apply tags allowed them to use it on Barkley. That shifted leverage towards New York, and the team faced little pressure to offer a lucrative package of salary and guarantees given the presence of the tag and the wider landscape of the RB market. Dunleavy does note, on the other hand, that “at least six teams” would have made a push to sign Barkley in free agency, had that become a possibility.

The Giants were unwilling – at least, right up until the deadline – to reach or surpass the $22MM mark in guarantees, a crucial figure in negotiations. Barkley (along with the Raiders’ Josh Jacobs and the Cowboys’ Tony Pollard) would earn just over $22MM by playing on franchise tags this year and next, so a long-term offer above that point would have been needed for a deal to be plausible. Upping the guarantees included lowering the AAV in the Barkley case, though, leaving the sides at an impasse.

The increasingly public nature of negotiations left the two-time Pro Bowler frustrated with this process, and attention will now turn to his willingness (or lack thereof) to participate in training camp in the build-up to his sixth season in the Big Apple. The team will face considerable expectations given last year’s surprising success, and Barkley will again be counted on as a focal point of New York’s offense. How the season dictates his financial market ahead of 2024 will be a major storyline to follow.

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