Saquon Barkley’s Week 1 Availability Is Allegedly “In Question”
A crucial contract deadline looms, and Saquon Barkley’s future with the New York Giants for the 2023 season is still in doubt.
A crucial contract deadline looms, and Saquon Barkley‘s future with the New York Giants for the 2023 season is still in doubt.
Barkley’s “availability for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys will be in serious question” if he doesn’t sign a long-term contract, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Barkley is still without a contract after talks to reach a deal before the NFL‘s franchise tag deadline in March fell apart. To get Barkley to sign a long-term contract, the Giants placed a $10.1 million franchise tag on him for the 2023 season. Barkley has refused this offer.
Franchise-tagged players have until July 17 to come to a long-term arrangement with the NFL. The franchise tag would be Saquon Barkley’s sole option to play in the upcoming season if a new contract couldn’t be struck. Holding out is a possibility that is still on the table, according to reports about Barkley, as a substitute.
The 26-year-old Barkley just finished a season with a career-high 1,312 running yards. The former No. 2 overall selection made his first appearance in the Pro Bowl since his rookie year, 2018, after two seasons marred by injuries in 2020 and 2021. He ran for 10 touchdowns and 1,650 total yards from scrimmage.
Regarding rushing, the Giants were fourth in the league last year and advanced to the postseason for the first time since the 2016 campaign. Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones, who were in the final year of their rookie contracts in 2022, were the subject of discussions when the summer began.
Although they couldn’t agree with Barkley, the Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract. During unproductive discussions, owner John Mara expressed his wish for Barkley to “be a Giant for his entire career.” According to reports, the two parties have not progressed as the offseason continues.
The unsuccessful discussions happened during a challenging market for running back contracts, as teams around the league have been reluctant to make long-term financial commitments to some of the NFL‘s top rushers.
After being cut by the Minnesota Vikings, Dalvin Cook is still a free agent. Josh Jacobs, the current NFL running leader, has thus far declined to accept a franchise tender from the Las Vegas Raiders, just like Barkley. After a breakout season was cut short by a fractured fibula in the playoffs, Tony Pollard, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, did sign his franchise tender.
