Any reunion between Saquon Barkley and the Giants likely won’t come via the franchise tag.
The Giants are not expected to use the $12.1 million tag on the star running back but will still explore a new contract with him, ESPN reported Monday.
A failure to reach a deal before NFL free agency begins on March 13 would result in Barkley, 27, hitting the open market for the first time in his career.
Monday’s report is the latest to indicate Barkley will not be tagged for a second consecutive year. Barkley played last season on a revised $10.1 million tag and would be due for a 20% raise if the Giants tagged him again.
“They did it last year, so I’m numb to it,” Barkley said last month. “I don’t have any feelings toward that at all. [But] if you’re gonna do it, just don’t wait until [the deadline on] March 5. Just get it over with. If not, let me go. Simple.”
Barkley, whom the Giants drafted second overall in 2018, rushed for 962 yards on 3.9 yards per carry and scored 10 total touchdowns in 14 games last season.
The Bronx-born Barkley eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in three of his six NFL seasons, most recently in 2022, when he recorded a career-high 1,312. He’s battled injuries throughout his career, including a torn ACL in 2020 and ankle sprains in 2019, 2021 and last year.
Losing Barkley would create a play-making void for a Giants team on which quarterback Daniel Jones, who played only six games during an injury-plagued 2023 season, finished second in rushing with 206 yards. Barkley’s backup, Matt Brieda, is set to become a free agent after rushing for 151 yards on 2.7 yards per carry in 2023.
NFL teams remain reluctant to give expensive, long-term contracts to running backs, a position with a reputation for players wearing down at younger ages.
The Las Vegas Raiders are also not expected to tag running back Josh Jacobs for a second consecutive season, nor are the Dallas Cowboys considered likely to tag Tony Pollard again, according to ESPN. The Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekeler aren’t expected to be tagged, either.
