The New York Giants have made a decision that will impact running back Saquon Barkley’s future following their standoff ahead of last season.
The Giants have had to make key decisions on Barkley in the last two offseasons, using a franchise tag that meant he would be paid $10.1 million for the 2023 season, though he negotiated a slightly better deal.
They won’t be using the tag on him this time around, however, with the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz reporting that the Giants have no interest in doing so ahead of the 2024 season.
“Unlike last year, when the Giants tagged Barkley after failing to come to a long-term deal, there is no real sentiment whatsoever that they are interested in doing that this time around,” Schwartz writes.
Should Barkley become a free agent this offseason, he’s likely to have multiple suitors. The Los Angeles Chargers are already thought to be a top destination, with new head coach Jim Harbaugh tipped to pursue him should he hit the open market.
“I do think Saquon Barkley is going to be at the top of his list in terms of what he wants to do at the running back position,” Ryan Leaf, a former teammate and close friend of Harbaugh’s said a few weeks ago. “They [the Giants] can franchise tag him again, but that’s a lot of money. It’s something Jim Harbaugh wants to do. He wants to run the football and wants to use those guys down the field with play-action.”
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Barkley played 14 games for the Giants last season, registering 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He added another 280 yards and four touchdowns through the air.
