New York Giants working again Saquon Barkley is heading totally free company for the primary time in his profession, avoiding the franchise tag forward of Tuesday’s deadline to use the restrictive marker.
Basic supervisor Joe Schoen mentioned final week that the Giants weren’t taking the tag off the desk, however the crew opted in opposition to tagging Barkley for a second straight yr due to a price of $12.1m, in line with a number of experiences.
“We don’t wish to do it. In an ideal world, we don’t wish to try this once more,” Schoen mentioned.
The free agent market could not produce an enormous payday for Barkley based mostly on the obvious devaluation of the working again place.
The unrestricted free-agent market at working again is stacked this offseason, with Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders) and Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys), who had been additionally tagged in 2023, plus Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans) and Austin Ekeler (Los Angeles Chargers) all out of contract.
Being tagged in 2023 irked Barkley, who has since made it clear he felt the Giants had been disloyal by not making a long-term dedication. After a career-high 1,312 speeding yards in 16 video games in 2022, Barkley settled for an adjusted one-year tender provide for the 2023 season. However he skipped voluntary exit interviews with head coach Brian Daboll underneath an “open door” coverage and mentioned he was “numb” to the enterprise aspect of the NFL.
Schoen mentioned final week the Giants met with Barkley’s new agent through the mix and expressed optimism about coming to an settlement with the two-time Professional Bowl choice.
“I believe we’ve all grown – Saquon, myself, the group, by means of the final 12, 13, 14 months,” Schoen mentioned, noting that Barkley’s new agent, Ed Berry, is somebody with whom they’ve a “actually good” relationship. “Saquon could also be in a special place now than he was then by way of understanding the market and the enterprise aspect of it. I’m wanting ahead to having these conversations with him.”
Drafted by the Giants with the No 2 decide within the 2018 draft, Barkley began all 14 video games he performed in final season, speeding for 962 yards and 6 touchdowns. He additionally caught 41 passes for 280 yards and 4 scores.
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In six seasons with the Giants, Barkley has rushed for five,211 yards and 35 touchdowns on 1,201 carries in 74 video games. He additionally has 288 receptions for two,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Doable touchdown spots
Houston Texans: The Texans are working on an accelerated timeline, due to the exploits of quarterback CJ Stroud in his rookie yr. They may have their eyes on the AFC title sport subsequent season. Whereas they had been a dynamite passing assault final yr, Houston struggled to maneuver the ball constantly on the bottom. Present lead again Devin Singletary is a stable runner, however he lacks Barkley’s homerun-hitting potential. With oodles of cap house, the Texans can put collectively a aggressive provide to deliver extra juice to their backfield.
Philadelphia Eagles: Philly GM Howie Roseman will discover any and all methods to improve his crew. And the Eagles are working in a rarefied air as an NFC aspect who know they are going to be competing in 2024. D’Andre Swift is a free-agent this offseason, leaving the Eagles with only one working again underneath contract on their roster. Barkley has been inconsistent and has a patchy harm file, however he’s a dynamic again who might elevate an Eagles offense that appeared out of concepts by the top of final season.
Inexperienced Bay Packers: How a couple of Jordan Love-Barkley backfield? The Packers have already got fantasy soccer darling Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on their roster. However Jones is 29, and Dillon is extra of a between-the-tackles thumper than somebody who contributes within the passing sport. If Jones is to return to Inexperienced Bay subsequent season, he’s liable to take a big pay minimize, as he did final season. Barkley would extra neatly match with Inexperienced Bay’s youth motion on offense and add a contemporary ability set to a working again room in want of an injection of expertise.
Chicago Bears: The Bears have $63m in cap room to buy groceries with this offseason. By the point subsequent season rolls round, they’re more likely to have a brand new, rookie quarterback on the helm. There are most likely simpler methods to splash this over the long-term, however Barkley would deliver a dynamism to an offense that has been sorely missing any exterior Justin Fields prior to now two seasons. If Fields strikes on, Chicago will want extra manufacturing from their backs.
Baltimore Ravens: The tastiest match could be alongside Lamar Jackson in one of the vital run-oriented offenses within the league. The Ravens completed tops within the NFL in 2023 in speeding makes an attempt per sport, speeding yards per sport and yards per carry. By means of dint of Jackson and Todd Monken’s scheme, the Ravens will all the time churn out a robust sport. However with Barkley’s skill to flex from the backfield to a receiver spot, they might push their offense to a brand new stage in 2024.
