Getty Image / Jim McIsaac
It’s been a busy offseason for the New York Giants as the front office has made numerous moves to improve the roster.
However, the situation regarding Saquon Barkley’s contract is still something that needs to be addressed.
New York has until June 17 to finalize a deal with Barkley. If a deal is not agreed on, then Barkley must play on the franchise tag.
That would be a less than ideal situation, as there is a chance Saquon Barkley continues to sit out until he’s given the contract he wants.
It’s definitely a situation to continue to monitor, especially considering how quiet the organization is being about it.
At the very least, quarterback Daniel Jones just hopes Saquon Barkley signs a contract soon. According to The Athletic, Jones has remained in touch with the superstar running back.
“Obviously, Saquon is a close friend of mine, and he’s been a very important part of what we’ve done here, and he’s a tremendous part of this offense. I hope they can get something done. That’s between them.”
Meanwhile, head coach Brian Daboll was tight-lipped about the entire situation. Here’s what he had to say when asked about Barkley’s contract negotiations, per The Athletic.
“I respect the question, but I’m not going to get into any talks about contracts, what could happen, about what could not happen, out of respect for the situation.”
Although New York isn’t sharing much information right now, this is a big moment for the franchise. In fact, The Athletic hints that this may be a career defining moment for general manager Joe Schoen.
“Barkley is one of the faces of the Giants franchise, and how this plays out will leave a lasting impression on Schoen’s tenure.”
Not only is retaining a superstar essential for the team’s success, it also creates a situation for the Giants to save cap space in the long run, via The Athletic.
“If a long-term extension is reached, that could create valuable cap space… [An] extension could lower Barkley’s $10.1 million cap hit on the franchise tag by $4 million to $5 million.”
This is a situation to continue to monitor as the Giants have less than 20 days to reach a deal with Barkley.
If they don’t, then things are certainly going to get interesting in New York.