Saquon Barkley, Giants agree to one-year contract worth $11 million, source confirms
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is introduced before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Jan. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger
Saquon Barkley and the Giants have found peace.
The two sides agreed to a one-year contract that includes the $10.1 million franchise tag, plus $900,000 in incentives that could bolster his earnings on the season to $11 million, a source confirmed. Barkley also received a $2 million signing bonus with the new deal.
Barkley will report to the Giants today with his other veteran teammates. Asked if Barkley will be on the field Wednesday with the rest of the team for the first practice of training camp, a source replied: “Yes.”
And so averts a training camp dominated with “Where’s Saquon?” questions.
This development has to please everyone affiliated with the Giants, from owner John Mara to Barkley’s teammates.
There had been musings by Barkley on social media that he could commit to a lengthy absence.
“It is what it is,” was how Barkley chronicled the original failure of reaching an accord last week.
Perhaps, as it turned out, he never had the stomach for that. This is certain: The Giants and one of their best players now can focus solely on the season ahead.
And coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, both scheduled to meet the media Wednesday, won’t have to answer endless questions about an absent Barkley. He will be at camp, with his teammates.
Entering his sixth season, Barkley’s agreement with the Giants seems to ensure that both parties will avoid additional animosity.
The Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley. Sides had until July 17 to come to terms on a long-term deal. With that deadline passed, sides could negotiate terms of a one-year pact but not a multiyear deal.
Barkley ran for a career-best 1,312 yards and scored 10 touchdowns last season as the Giants went 9-7-1 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Barkley's 57 receptions also was tied for the team lead.
In recent days, former Giants publicly offered advice to the 26-year-old Barkley.
Former Giants linebacker and radio announcer Carl Banks said on his “Bleav in Giants” podcast with Bob Papa: “Don’t be a principled fool. And I say that because, you could sit at home and nobody is paying the price. The games are going to start on time. Training camp won’t stop because you’re not there. Come in with your integrity and be enthusiastic. Be angry — you should be angry.”
And Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, who once staged a lengthy holdout with the Giants, told Newsday last week that he felt bad for Barkley.
“I know [Schoen] loves Saquon. And Saquon is the leader. He’s the heart and soul of that team. I understand that you can’t overpay, but he’s so valuable to that team. And you don’t want him not to be happy.”
Strahan went on to say he sees a lot of himself in Barkley: “If you take him out of the offense, what do you have? [The Giants] need this kid.” Strahan said his advice to Barkley is to play the season and “see what’s out there” afterwards.
Perhaps it will play out that way. But, for now, there is a season to prepare for and a team that is whole.
There is peace with Barkley. The Giants can begin training camp with optimism.
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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