Saquon Barkley won't sign franchise tag, won't be eligible for Giants offseason program
Giants running back Saquon Barkley on the bench near the end of the NFC divisional playoff game against the Eagles. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Saquon Barkley is the current face of the Giants. He was their NFL Man of the Year nominee last season.
In the 2022 season, he finished his rookie deal, playing out the fifth-year option. He is now, under the non-exclusive franchise tag, set to play the upcoming season on a one-year deal.
On Wednesday morning, Newsday was informed that Barkley will not be signing his franchise tender and, therefore, will not be eligible to join his teammates when offseason conditioning begins Monday. The program is voluntary around the league.
Barkley was in Arizona last week with many of his teammates on offense, including Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, newly acquired tight end Darren Waller and receiver Parris Campbell.
Barkley has been voted a team captain in four consecutive years.
If Barkley is frustrated by the franchise tag, he joins almost every other NFL player who has ever been franchised.
In Barkley’s case, he is coming off a season where he stayed healthy, playing 75% of the offensive snaps.
He led the Giants with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He was tied (with wide receiver Richie James) with a team-high 57 receptions.
The Giants mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 14-16. His attendance (or not) could be the true tell of Barkley’s state of mind.
Under the tag, Barkley would earn $10.1 million for the 2023 season.
At the league meetings last month, Giants owner John Mara said he wanted Barkley to wear a Giants uniform for his entire career. Mara said his “dream” is that Barkley plays his whole career as a Giant.
“We’d love to have him,” Mara said. “He provides leadership. He’s a great player. We’d like to get something done with him at some point.”
Mara has also noted that Barkley is more than “just” a running back.
He adds a lot to our team — not just as a running back,” Mara said. “So, he is somebody that we want back. But there is a limit as to what we can do \[financially\]. I don’t think he’s thrilled about being tagged. But he’s a professional. He understands the business . . You just go through these negotiations with your better players. It’s not the first time we’ve been through it. I’m still hopeful at some point we’ll be able to get something done.”
Giants general manager Joe Schoen was asked recently if the current running back market, which has seen the position devalued, influences how he views Barkley.
“It doesn’t,” Schoen said. “Saquon knows how I think about him.”
One way or another, Barkley will be a Giant this season. As for what happens in the meantime?
Stay tuned.
With Tom Rock
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
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