New York Giants working again Saquon Barkley shall be eligible totally free company subsequent month if he and the crew can’t come to a contract settlement beforehand.
The Giants might additionally use the franchise tag — as they did final yr — to retain Barkley’s providers for 2024 at a one-year assured worth of roughly $12.4 million.
However what would occur if the Giants allowed Barkley to check the free agent waters? What would his market be?
Dan Duggan, who covers the Giants for The Athletic, polled Professional Soccer Focus wage cap analyst Brad Spielberger and The Athletic’s resident GM, Randy Mueller, to get a sense of what Barkley is going through on the open market.
“What’s working within the (veteran) working backs’ favor this offseason is it’s not perceived to be an excellent draft class,” Spielberger mentioned.
Barkley can be joined by a number of different star working backs on the free agent market, together with Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, and need to compete for jobs, which might deliver the worth of working backs down this spring.
We already know that there are groups that might be considering Barkley, similar to Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers, so he could possibly be on the prime of the checklist.
“That is simply my opinion, I might see making a case for him being the highest offensive man on the free agent board for some groups,” Mueller mentioned. “If I’m a crew with an underperforming working sport, and really feel like I want a shot within the arm, I don’t assume it’s loopy cash. So it’s dangerous (for the Giants) to not tag him except you’re okay with him leaving, I believe.”
Whilst a prime choice, Barkley projected worth falls properly under what he was searching for final offseason — a quantity he’s prone to keep on with this yr.
Professional Soccer Focus tasks Barkley’s market worth at $11 million per yr, whereas Spotrac estimates Barkley at a median annual wage of $9.9 million. Over The Cap’s 2023 valuation is at $7.9 million.
Spielberger concurs with PFF’s estimate, guessing Barkley’s final contract lands within the $11-12 million vary (per yr), and all of it goes again to the franchise tag quantity.
The Giants can merely place the franchise tag on Barkley and keep away from all of this. Barkley has mentioned he doesn’t want for issues to play out that means. He could not have a alternative.
The Giants are taking a look at an offseason of change and solely have round $22 million in cap area to handle their many obtrusive wants. Tagging Barkley would minimize into that quantity considerably, as would any long-term deal they’d ultimately signal him to.
Schoen and Giants head coach Brian Daboll come from Buffalo and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka from Kansas Metropolis. Each organizations make use of a working backs-by-committee strategy.
Final yr, they drafted Oklahoma’s Eric Grey and this yr they may add one other again to the combination. Which may occur no matter whether or not Barkley returns.
Retaining Barkley is little question a serious matter of dialog at 1925 Giants Drive this offseason however the Giants might merely let Barkley play the market and take their probabilities. They haven’t gained a lot with him, so they may danger making an attempt their luck with out him.