Giants Notes: Barkley, Banks, Neal, Hubbard

Thanks in part to HBO, Saquon Barkley‘s New York exit has been one of the more thoroughly examined free agency choices in PFR’s history. The NFL’s second-leading rusher this season was not in the Giants’ 2024 plans, and he had effectively decided to move on before this year’s free agency. The 2023 offseason paved Barkley’s path to Philly, and while much is known about the Giants and their six-year RB1 not agreeing on an extension last year, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates Barkley declined the team’s March 2023 offer — believed to be in the $13MM-per-year ballpark — because it included only $19.5MM guaranteed (subscription required).

The Giants famously prioritized Daniel Jones over Barkley in March 2023, re-signing the QB and tagging the RB. When the Giants and Barkley huddled up again before the July deadline, the team’s final offer came in at $22MM guaranteed. That would have covered nearly two franchise tags, though it fell just short of doing so. A guarantee including two tag amounts is generally viewed as the floor for extension talks with tagged players, but this July offer came after the Giants had previously proposed $23.5MM guaranteed, Duggan adds. Barkley passed, as the Giants also reduced the AAV on their final proposal — a three-year, $33MM deal in total — and then proceeded to win a bet on himself.

Barkley pocketed the $10.1MM franchise tag salary and then scored a $26MM guarantee at signing from the Eagles. While Giants pro scouting director Chris Rossetti suggested a value gap may exist between Barkley and the other 2024 FA RBs, the team did not opt for a second tag, leading to the Eagles payday. The Giants were not happy at the appearance of Barkley’s Eagles framework being done before the legal tampering period, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan and Tim McManus, who added the Eagles wondered why their rivals were irked due to being prepared to let the two-time Pro Bowler walk anyway. The NFL cleared the Eagles of tampering this summer.

Here is the latest from the NFC’s New York team:

• The Giants benched Deonte Banks for what Brian Daboll classified as insufficient effort during their Monday loss to the Steelers. While Daboll confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) Banks will start in Week 9, concerns about the 2023 first-round cornerback’s effort level have come up previously. Two prior warnings about effort are believed to have came Banks’ way from New York’s coaching staff, per the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, who adds teammates have expressed issues at the Maryland alum’s work here as well. The Giants made Banks the center of their CB plan this offseason, as they had intended to let Adoree’ Jackson walk (before re-signing the veteran days before Week 1). Pro Football Focus ranks Banks 87th among corners this season.
• Evan Neal saw his first 2024 action Monday, playing just one snap in Pittsburgh. The former No. 7 overall pick’s stock has nosedived since his 2023 ankle injury. The Giants had not viewed Neal as their swing tackle going into the season, giving 2022 third-rounder Joshua Ezeudu that role. Ezeudu replaced Andrew Thomas initially but struggled, leading to Chris Hubbard — signed off the 49ers’ practice squad — starting in Pittsburgh. Hubbard will start again in Week 9, Daboll notes, while new Giants O-line coach Carmen Bricillo confirms (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) Neal remains an RT-only player. Neal has done work at LT before and after practice, but the Giants still do not view the demoted RT starter as an option to fill in for Thomas on the blindside.
• The Giants met with former Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries last week, marking the offseason cap casualty’s first tie to a team since his release. Humphries did not sign, and Daboll (via Duggan) pointed to a financial gap existing between team and player. The Giants hold only $1.7MM in cap space, while Humphries was previously tied to a three-year, $51MM Cardinals deal. The nine-year veteran is coming off an ACL tear sustained in December of last year.