New York Giants operating again Saquon Barkley can be eligible without cost company subsequent month if he and the group can’t come to a contract settlement beforehand.
The Giants might additionally use the franchise tag — as they did final yr — to retain Barkley’s companies for 2024 at a one-year assured worth of roughly $12.4 million.
However what would occur if the Giants allowed Barkley to check the free agent waters? What would his market be?
Dan Duggan, who covers the Giants for The Athletic, polled Professional Soccer Focus wage cap analyst Brad Spielberger and The Athletic’s resident GM, Randy Mueller, to get a way of what Barkley is going through on the open market.
“What’s working within the (veteran) operating backs’ favor this offseason is it’s not perceived to be an excellent draft class,” Spielberger stated.
Barkley can be joined by a number of different star operating backs on the free agent market, together with Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, and need to compete for jobs, which might carry the worth of operating backs down this spring.
We already know that there are groups that will be thinking about Barkley, resembling Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers, so he may very well be on the high of the listing.
“That is simply my opinion, I might see making a case for him being the highest offensive man on the free agent board for some groups,” Mueller stated. “If I’m a group with an underperforming operating sport, and really feel like I want a shot within the arm, I don’t assume it’s loopy cash. So it’s dangerous (for the Giants) to not tag him except you’re okay with him leaving, I believe.”
Whilst a high choice, Barkley projected worth falls effectively under what he was searching for final offseason — a quantity he’s more likely to follow this yr.
Professional Soccer Focus initiatives Barkley’s market worth at $11 million per yr, whereas Spotrac estimates Barkley at a median annual wage of $9.9 million. Over The Cap’s 2023 valuation is at $7.9 million.
Spielberger concurs with PFF’s estimate, guessing Barkley’s final contract lands within the $11-12 million vary (per yr), and all of it goes again to the franchise tag quantity.
The Giants can merely place the franchise tag on Barkley and keep away from all of this. Barkley has stated he doesn’t want for issues to play out that manner. He could not have a selection.
The Giants are taking a look at an offseason of change and solely have round $22 million in cap house to deal with their many evident wants. Tagging Barkley would lower into that quantity considerably, as would any long-term deal they’d finally signal him to.
Schoen and Giants head coach Brian Daboll come from Buffalo and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka from Kansas Metropolis. Each organizations make use of a operating backs-by-committee strategy.
Final yr, they drafted Oklahoma’s Eric Grey and this yr they might add one other again to the combination. That may occur no matter whether or not Barkley returns.
Retaining Barkley is little question a significant matter of dialog at 1925 Giants Drive this offseason however the Giants might merely let Barkley play the market and take their possibilities. They haven’t received a lot with him, so they may danger making an attempt their luck with out him.
