By Charlotte Carroll, Jeff Howe and Larry Holder
The New York Giants aren’t placing the franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley, a league source said. This will allow Barkley to test the free-agent market starting next week if a deal isn’t struck with the Giants by then.
Barkley, 27, rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns last season, along with 41 receptions for 280 yards and four TDs in 14 games. Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain early last season and wasn’t able to match his bounce-back 2022 campaign where he rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 TDs. Even with the injury, the running back has been a huge component of Brian Daboll’s offense.
Barkley played under a one-year contract last season after trying to fight for more money and a long-term deal with the Giants. It appeared both sides were headed for a standoff as training camp approached, but Barkley signed a one-year deal worth up to $11 million and showed up to camp, opting not to sign the franchise tag.
Barkley said near the end of last season that he was as open as he was last year to getting a long-term deal done this offseason.
“I just want something that’s fair and that makes sense,” Barkley said. “That’s really it. … If it’s not here, hopefully it’s some other place.”
While Barkley was asked late this season about the franchise tag, he said he’d address his emotions if it happened again. Barkley acknowledged that this was probably his last opportunity to secure such a big deal given how running backs have been treated across the league over the past few years.
The No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft has tallied 5,211 rushing yards and 35 TDs in his six seasons in New York. He’s also caught 288 passes for 2,100 yards and 12 TDs.
How Barkley stacks up
Here’s a look at how Barkley stacks up the other notable free agent running backs in touches, Expected Points Added per target/rush and EPA per rush (via TruMedia; ranking in parentheses; 59 eligible RBs, minimum 80 touches):
| player | Touches | Epa/rush | EPA/Tar+Rush |
|---|---|---|---|
|
308 (5) |
-0.01 (11) |
-0.00 (16) |
|
|
307 (6) |
-0.08 (33) |
-0.10 (38) |
|
|
288 (8) |
-0.20 (52) |
-0.19 (53) |
|
|
270 (13) |
-0.16 (46) |
-0.14 (45) |
|
|
268 (14) |
0.00 (9) |
-0.04 (23) |
|
|
246 (21) |
-0.07 (30) |
-0.08 (33) |
|
|
235 (22) |
-0.17 (49) |
-0.17 (52) |
|
|
230 (27) |
-0.19 (51) |
-0.19 (54) |
|
|
210 (29) |
-0.06 (29) |
-0.02 (17) |
|
|
87 (58) |
-0.22 (54) |
-0.13 (44) |
|
|
82 (59) |
-0.42 (59) |
-0.35 (59) |
In terms of advanced metrics, Barkley’s numbers aren’t so hot even though he looked more like the Barkley of his early career in these past two seasons. You’d think Barkley, who’s still well below the dreaded 30-year-old RB threshold, could be an offensive asset for a team with viable quarterback play possessing weapons outside of himself. — Larry Holder, NFL senior writer
What if Barkley leaves?
If Barkley and the Giants do not eventually reunite, the New York running back room will be relatively barren and in need of significant investment.
Even with the ankle sprain, Barkley accounted for 65 percent of the offensive snaps this past season. Matt Breida, 29, played 26 percent of the snaps averaging 2.7 yards per carry (on 55 attempts) and is also slated for free agency. The Giants drafted Eric Gray in the fifth round of the 2023 draft but he didn’t get much run last season. As a rookie, he tallied just 17 attempts for 48 yards (2.7 yards per carry). It’s hard to believe the Giants would be ready to hand the backfield to Gray after such limited exposure last season.
The team also has Gary Brightwell (nine attempts in 2023) and Jashaun Corbin (one attempt) under contract. The question now is if the Giants wade into the draft pool for to add a cheaper, younger back (though this year’s class isn’t believed to be as strong as last year’s) to their stable or bring in a veteran during free agency. Maybe it ends up being Barkley. — Charlotte Carroll, Giants beat writer
Required reading
(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)
