Saquon Barkley's contract situation with the Giants is reaching a critical stage

Saquon Barkley's contract negotiations with the Giants are nearing a deadline. Barkley, who understands the devaluation of running backs in the NFL, wants to be valued beyond his position. The Giants are prepared to pay him as one of the top running backs in the league, but Barkley is seeking a richer guaranteed portion of the deal. If an agreement is not reached, Barkley may play on the franchise tag and revisit his contract situation after the season.

The ongoing contract negotiations between Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants are clouded by a different kind of vision. The deadline for Barkley to sign a multiyear contract or play on the one-year franchise tag is rapidly approaching. Barkley has a deep understanding of the devaluation of the running back position in the NFL, as seen with other running backs like Josh Jacobs and Dalvin Cook. Barkley sees himself as more than just a running back and believes he has been a key part of the Giants' success. General Manager Joe Schoen values Barkley as a player and person but recognizes the reality of the market for running backs. The Giants have offered Barkley a deal that makes him one of the top running backs in the league, but the guaranteed portion of the contract was not enough for Barkley. If they can't agree on suitable compensation, the Giants are willing to have Barkley play on the franchise tag and revisit his contract situation after the season. The negotiations may come down to the wire, as seen with the recent deal for quarterback Daniel Jones. Barkley impressed Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll in 2022 with his performance and durability. The Giants need Barkley's excellence on the field, but playing on the franchise tag could lead to negative consequences. Barkley would need to put up big numbers to secure a long-term deal in the future. Barkley is upset that contract offers were leaked to the media, which made him appear greedy. However, discord like this often dissipates once a contract agreement is reached. While sitting out the season might be tempting for Barkley, he would lose out on $10.1 million and values his teammates too much to abandon them. It is possible that co-owner John Mara may intervene in the negotiations, as he did with Jones.

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