Getty Image / Tim Nwachukwu
Saquon Barkley had an excellent bounce-back year for the New York Giants. The fifth-year running back out of Penn State showed once again why he is considered one of the NFL’s biggest talents.
After tearing his ACL in 2020, and a slow season in 2021, the human highlight reel tallied 1650 total yards for a lackluster Giants offense with a terrible run-blocking offensive line and helped lead the team to the NFC Divisional Round after they beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round.
Saquon Barkley’s first career playoff touchdown was a good one pic.twitter.com/Gg3TYqv9sf
— Roar Lions Roar (@RLRblog) January 15, 2023
Saquon Barkley Touchdown!!! Daniel Bellinger 2 pointer! Giants tie it up! pic.twitter.com/Kl8Kv75roX
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) December 24, 2022
Saquon Barkley revenge tour.
164 yards, a touchdown and a potential game-winning two-point conversion pic.twitter.com/Otj9FjQKUl
— Alex Rocco (@AlexRocco13_) September 11, 2022
But, Barkley is a free agent, as his original five-year rookie deal has expired. But, the two have taken a step towards coming to an agreement.
Report: Giants met briefly with Saquon Barkley's reps Monday. https://t.co/oxjc1ZxDWM
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 7, 2023
Here are more details, courtesy of that article.
The franchise tag deadline is Tuesday afternoon, and the Giants have one tag and two star players headed toward free agency. They are under the gun to get a deal done with Daniel Jones or Saquon Barkley , or risk losing the other.
The Giants are expected to tag Jones if they can’t get a contract worked out before 4 p.m. Tuesday.
It will come down to the wire.
Giants General Manager Joe Schoen met briefly with Barkley’s representation Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports.
“Positive meeting, by all accounts, with the continued hope from both sides they can make it work,” Garafolo wrote. “Let’s see what happens with Jones first.”
Still, it’s an NFL that is reluctant to hand out big contracts to running backs. It will be interesting to see what kind of deal Barkley can get, especially if the Giants have to use the tag on Daniel Jones.