EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants is not going to use the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley for a second straight yr, sources informed ESPN Tuesday, leaving the operating again free to check his worth as a free agent.
The franchise tag would have been price $12.1 million.
The transfer units in movement a possible departure from New York, the place Barkley has stated he would favor to stay his whole profession to create a legacy and have a post-playing profession on par with the likes of Eli Manning and Michael Strahan. The Giants now appear more likely to lose their finest offensive weapon, an enormous danger contemplating their lack of All Professional-type gamers on the roster.
Regardless, Barkley wished to keep away from the franchise tag for the second straight yr. It will have meant taking part in out the 4 years of his rookie deal, a fifth-year choice and two years on the franchise tag with out ever turning into a real free agent.
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The Giants have been adamant that Barkley was not obtainable at this previous season’s commerce deadline. Basic supervisor Joe Schoen then described the tag as “a software we’ve got at our disposal” at his end-of-year press convention.
It left open the opportunity of one other go-around.
“They did it final yr. I am numb to it,” Barkley stated of the franchise tag after the season. “I actually haven’t any emotions in direction of that in any respect.”
Now, the open market is lastly on the horizon after six seasons with the workforce that drafted him No. 2 total out of Penn State in 2018. The Giants had a shedding report in 5 of these six years.
When the concept Barkley was on the verge of hitting the free agent market was offered to a supply near the operating again lately, it was met with little greater than eyeball emojis.
That is what they wished. It a minimum of provides Barkley decisions and can decide the two-time Professional Bowler’s worth. There might be no extra “what ifs.”
None of this fully guidelines out a return to the Giants. The most definitely situation for Barkley to return is that the market would not show to be as fruitful as he expects and the Giants determine to match a suggestion (probably below $10 million per season).
“They do not see the worth in paying a operating again $10 million,” one supply who spoke with the Giants final week stated.
Barkley, 27, turned down a last deal final offseason that sources have stated provided near $23 million assured. He made $10.1 million final yr on an adjusted franchise tag and something over $13 million assured in a brand new contract will finally be to his monetary profit, when it comes to assured cash and years.
The one downside is the operating again market has been depressed lately. It is exhausting for the place to receives a commission, particularly after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs received a Tremendous Bowl for the second straight yr with a seventh-round choose as their lead operating again.
An NFL common supervisor predicted to ESPN that Barkley would get within the $8 million per yr vary on a brand new contract in a troublesome free agent market. One other thought it might be nearer to $10 million per season. That was the overall feeling from near a dozen executives, scouts and brokers with expertise within the operating again market.
Just one agent advised the $12-14 million vary per season based mostly on Barkley’s title worth and the projection of what he might do on a greater workforce with a extra competent supporting forged. That might be extra in step with the $24-25 million assured {that a} supply near the state of affairs believes would have gotten a deal completed with the Giants final yr.
This yr the free agent operating again class is loaded. It already has the likes of Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard. That’s going to make this troublesome for Barkley.
“I imply, there’s some good names there. I imply, it is a bit of little bit of a saturated market,” Schoen stated final week on the NFL scouting mix.
But it surely’s greater than that for the Giants. This transfer — and Barkley’s probably exit — has extra to do with the worth of the place than the rest. Particularly contemplating Barkley is 27 years outdated with an damage historical past and rushed for below 1,000 yards this previous season.
When Schoen was requested immediately final week about whether or not the Barkley negotiations have been extra about operating again market worth or what he does for the workforce, the overall supervisor did not hesitate.
“Operating again market worth,” he stated.
And the $12.1 million franchise tag is anticipated to be above market worth.
