Since being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Saquon Barkley has exclusively donned the New York Giants’ jersey. The dynamic running back quickly became the face of the franchise from his rookie year onwards.
However, recent contract disputes have cast a shadow over the player-team relationship.
Barkley openly acknowledges that these contract issues have altered his perspective on the NFL. Initially, he hadn’t contemplated the possibility of playing for another team. Yet, after navigating through complex negotiations and gaining a deeper understanding of the NFL’s business aspect, he now recognizes that it’s “possible” he could find himself in a different uniform.
“Yeah, I mean it never crossed my mind until last year after I got [franchise] tagged. Up until that moment, I really believed that I was gonna finish my career as a New York Giant. You know, that was a goal of mine. And that’s still in play. I have so much respect for the Mara family and the Tisch family and everyone in the Giants organization.”
The New York Giants possess the option of utilizing the franchise tag on Barkley for a second time if they fail to secure a new deal before free agency kicks in. Alternatively, they could opt to allow him to explore free agency, granting him the opportunity to negotiate a contract with any of the league’s 32 teams.
It’s worth noting that the NFL’s valuation of running backs has hit a historic low in recent years. Barkley is well aware of the associated risks that come with entering free agency in this climate. However, he remains optimistic about what the future holds.
“It sucks that I’m part of that trend right now but there will be a time where running backs will get paid again.”
As the Giants and Saquon Barkley embark on another round of contract negotiations this offseason, it remains to be seen whether the outcome will mirror that of previous negotiations.
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