Saquon Barkley could miss Week 1 if no deal gets done with Giants
Since the New York Giants placed the franchise tag on star running back Saquon Barkley there hasn’t been any movement toward a new long-term deal.
With the July 15 deadline quickly approaching, Barkley remains without a new deal, bringing forth speculation concerning his future in New York beyond the 2023 season. The Penn State product is coming off a bounce-back campaign where he posted 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
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Barkley played a significant part in the Giants’ offensive production and success that pushed them to the divisional round of the playoffs. Although the Giants haven’t moved toward a new deal with Barkley, there doesn’t appear to be a sense of urgency from the Pro Bowler.
New York reportedly offered Barkley a two-year, $26 million deal, but he didn’t budge toward the contract. If he doesn’t reach an agreement on a new contract, it pushes him into an interesting spot.
Barkley will have to decide whether he will play the 2023 campaign or sit it out due to the lack of a new deal. Le’Veon Bell is the last notable player to take that route, but that negatively impacted his NFL career, as he was never the same player.
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Meanwhile, Barkley’s injury-riddled past may be playing a factor in the contract talks. He’s struggled to stay healthy throughout an entire campaign, which made last season more of an anomaly than the norm.
The Giants certainly want to keep Barkley around, but it doesn’t appear to be at the asking price that he wants.
