New York Giants working again Saquon Barkley can be an unrestricted free agent come the center of March until the staff indicators him to a brand new contract or locations the franchise tag on him for the second straight 12 months.
Barkley has let or not it’s recognized that he desires to stay a Big. Normal supervisor Joe Schoen has mentioned the two sides will meet later this month on the NFL mix to debate a attainable deal.
Saquon Barkley on First Take says he desires to stay a Big, including he has the utmost confidence in Daniel Jones on the Giants beginning QB… pic.twitter.com/Sie5HFMztF
— Jennifer X. Williams (@JenXperience) February 5, 2024
But when issues don’t work out and Barkley is permitted to check the free agent waters, the Giants will seemingly be left on the dock as a number of different groups have been rumored to be scorching for his companies.
Former NFL quarterback-turned-television analyst Ryan Leaf, an ex-teammate of incoming Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, believes Barkley may very well be a primary goal for the Bolts in free company.
“Austin Ekeler’s a giant a part of what it may very well be with them working the soccer, however I do assume that Saquon Barkley’s going to be on the prime of [Harbaugh’s] record, by way of, what he desires to do with the working again place with him being a free agent,” Leaf mentioned Friday on Good Morning Soccer.
“I feel they might franchise tag him once more; I do know that’s some huge cash. Nevertheless it’s one thing I do know that Jim Harbaugh desires to do. He desires to run the soccer, and he desires to make use of these guys down the sphere with play-action.”
It might price the Giants round $12.4 million this 12 months to tag Barkley once more. They at present have round $37 million in accessible wage cap area, so it might be too wealthy for his or her blood contemplating all of their roster wants this offseason.
One other risk — and one Giants followers hope by no means involves fruition — is the Dallas Cowboys. RB Tony Pollard is a pending free agent, and the Cowboys aren’t seemingly to offer him a long-term extension this offseason. They could see Barkley as an improve.
“Barkley would add a wanted big-play ingredient to the Cowboys offense,” writes Jerry Trotta of the favored Cowboys weblog The Landry Hat.
“Barkley is a greater all-around again than Pollard, together with between the tackles the place Pollard struggled mightily in 2023. Regardless of being caught in a porous Giants offense, he nonetheless managed 1,242 scrimmage yards (962 speeding) and 10 complete touchdowns. He ranked within the prime 10 in yards after contact and explosive runs on the place, per Professional Soccer Focus.”
Translation: The Giants need to signal or tag Barkley or they may lose him. Tagging him will put a bitter style in his mouth, however they have to be cautious to not overpay him both. Have in mind Barkley missed time once more final 12 months with one other excessive ankle sprain.