New York Giants’ star running back Saquon Barkley remains absent from mandatory minicamp as he remains unhappy over his contract situation.
The Giants placed the franchise tag on the No. 2 selection of the 2018 NFL Draft ahead of free agency, thus preventing him from hitting the open market. The two sides have until July 17 to reach an extension on a long-term deal, otherwise Barkley would have to play the year under the franchise tag.
Speaking on a recent edition of “Good Morning Football”, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager propoed an enticing scenario in which the Giants would remove the franchise tag from Barkley and go after ex-Minnesota Vikings’ RB Dalvin Cook (h/t Nick Toney of Heavy.com):
“It’s a Machiavellian league. What if (the Giants) took Saquon off the franchise tag, let him be free, and brought in Dalvin Cook instead for half the price?”
Co-host Shaun O’Hara, who won a Super Bowl 42 ring with the G-Men in the 2007 season, called it a “Cold-blooded” suggestion, adding he’s unsure “what kind of damage that does within the locker room.”
Last week, the Vikings released the four-time Pro Bowl running back from his contract in a cap-saving move. Several notable teams have been linked to Cook’s services, including the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
If Barkley were to leave New York under any scenario, Cook would be a quality replacement given the fact he’s exceeded 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last four years. But in an ideal world, the Giants and Barkley reach an agreement on a new deal as they look to build off the franchise’s most successful season in more than a decade.
