New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley enjoyed a strong bounce-back year in 2022 that will surely land him a nice payday for 2023 and beyond.
After three consecutive injury-riddled seasons, Barkley stayed healthy and tuned in the best season of his career. The No. 2 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 57 receptions for 338 yards.
Barkley also played an instrumental role in helping the Giants surprisingly end a six-year playoff drought. Not only that, but he helped them pull off an upset over a 13-win Minnesota Vikings team in the Wild Card Round.
Barkley is eligible for free agency, but there’s good news for Giants fans. A new report from Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network indicate that Barkley will stay put. Pauline spoke to sources about the statuses of several running backs at the Senior Bowl, and this was the update:
“The belief is the New York Giants will retain Saquon Barkley by re-signing him before free agency opens up. It’s been widely reported that the two sides are negotiating with the hopes of reaching a new deal.”
The Penn State product isn’t the only notable Giants player that GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll must make a decision on. Starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who had his fifth-year option declined, also tuned in a career year and is eligible for free agency.
Many criticized the Giants for taking Barkley instead of a top quarterback prospect in 2018, though with the benefit of hindsight, passing on the likes of Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen looks like a smart move.
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But a healthy Barkley has been a game-changer for the Giants, and fresh off the franchise’s best season in six years, it feels like the best call is for both sides to reach an agreement on a new deal.
