Giants, Saquon Barkley trying to close ‘gap’ in negotiations
The New York Giants would very much like to re-sign star running back Saquon Barkley but only at a salary that they can absorb under the salary cap
Barkley and his representatives are seeking a multi-year deal somewhere along the lines of San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey — approximately $16 million per year — but the Giants are aiming a bit lower.
Big Blue’s midseason offer to the Pro Bowl back was for three years and approximately $37.5 million, similar to the deal the Cleveland Browns gave to Nick Chubb.
With the franchise tag window opening, the two sides are still apart on the details of a new deal, reports Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
As of the latest talks, a gap still exists. The Giants are not going to go much higher than an annual average of $12.5 million. They could increase their offer as far as guarantees. The Giants have little interest in having Barkley play the 2023 season on the franchise tag for $10.1 million because they are unwilling to eat up so much of their cap space on a running back. In the first year of Chubb’s new contract, 2021, his salary cap number was $4.7 million. That is more in line with what the Giants are thinking for Barkley.
The Giants currently have approximately $44 million in available cap space but much of that is earmarked for retaining impending free agent quarterback Daniel Jones, Barkley, and others such as safety Julian Love. Signing all three to market-level deals would cost the Giants much more than $44 million.
The Giants obviously want Barkley back but, as stated, the numbers aren’t meshing. Not at the moment, anyway. There are still several things general manager Joe Schoen can do to open up some cap space, but he has to act quickly as the franchise tag window shuts on March 7 and free agency opens up on March 15.
