Despite the successful career year, Saquon Barkley did not get what he wanted. Barkley’s future in New York remains cloudy after the sides couldn’t agree on a long-term contract by Monday’s deadline.
“It is what it is,” Barkley tweeted six minutes before the deadline as news began to spread that the Giants and their star running back wouldn’t reach a deal.
The two sides appeared to work down to the wire to try and get a contract done, and the newest report shows just how close they came. It all boiled down to just $2 million that neither side would budge on.
“In the end, Giants and Saquon Barkley couldn’t bridge a gap of less than $2 million in both average annual salary and guarantees over the first 2 years, sources said. Both sides felt they budged enough and now it feels like a big risk for both.”
Barkley now joins fellow backs Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard as players who will have to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag. Pollard is the only one among the three who has signed his tender offer and Barkley is not expected to report to training camp.
The question remains whether Barkley might sit out a few games or even the entire season.
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The Giants running back had previously turned down a contract offer worth $13 million annually but with only $19.5 million guaranteed.
Barkley is coming off a season in which he put up a career-best 1,312 rushing yards and recorded 10 touchdowns.
However, unless teams view you as a superstar at the running back position, they will not pay and they continue to show that.
