According to the New York Post, the Giants are unlikely to place the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley this offseason, meaning the running back can sign back with Big Blue as a free agent, or his time in New York will come to an end.
Both Evan and Tiki agree that the Giants can’t just let Barkley walk.
“The New York Giants have to keep Saquon Barkley,” Evan said. “But let me start off with the number one thing that kept jumping into my head. Oct. 31, 2023 that was the NFL trade deadline. Let me ask you this, if they couldn't trade Saquon Barkley on Oct. 30 and October 31, why months later?
“Would it be OK to way let him walk away for nothing? That seems like a complete, utter contradiction. So, in my opinion, the Giants made their decision on October 30. They didn't trade Saquon, they wouldn't even listen on trade offers. So what possibly could have changed? “
Tiki took the more emotional route in his argument, stating that Barkley is a face of the franchise and team leader that the Giants need to keep around, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense from a roster construction standpoint.
“Saquon Barkley is not fully necessary, but my emotion to Saquon is something that I think a lot of Giant fans feel and it's, I love this kid,” Tiki said. “I loved him when he came in.
“He is the perfect example of a star player that you would want on this team. So emotionally, you want to hold on to that guy because he's an example of guys who are the favorite player on the team, finishing their careers as a Giant or whatever team it is…I feel like he should be that guy.”