The deadline came and went on Monday and the New York Giants are no closer to having Saquon Barkley under contract.
The Giants offered Barkley the franchise tag, which would've paid him just north of $10 million in 2023, but the running back declined to sign back in March. Now, Barkley has the option to hold out of training camp -- and games -- or ultimately decide to play on the franchise tag.
WFAN’s Shaun Morash of the Audacy Original Podcast “One Giant Step” explained why he’s thrilled with the New York Giants' handling of star running back Saquon Barkley after the franchise tag deadline passed on Monday.
“A big day in Giants land and I, for one, am happy,” Morash said (3:00 in player above). “You’re not going to find a bigger pro-Joe Schoen podcast this week than me. I am excited. I am thrilled. We have a competent from office.”
While Barkley has yet to get paid this offseason, the Giants signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract with $92 million of that guaranteed thanks to a $36 million signing bonus with his $40M AAV.
“Did Daniel Jones maybe get a little more on average than he has proven, because he still has an injury history? Sure,” Morash continued. “But the Giants structured that deal where worst-case scenario they can get out of it after two years.”
There isn’t too much risk in that deal, as Morash explained, but all eyes were on Barkley as the offseason moved along.
“The Saquon Barkley franchise tag was so pivotal for the Giants because he is still going to get 10 million dollars this year,” Morash said, pointing out that they may have ended up overpaying the star running back given how the market has shifted. But Barkley didn’t bite.
“Saquon Barkley wanted to play this game in the offseason and he appears to have lost.”
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