New York Giants Running Back Saquon Barkley Avoids Contract Holdout

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley avoids contract rejection

Running back Saquon Barkley has signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants, ending speculation that he would miss the season due to a contract dispute.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Barkley could make up to $11 million this season, with a signing bonus worth $2 million. Barkley's base salary is $10.09 million with $910,000 in bonus incentives.

The new contract does not include a "no franchise tag" clause, allowing the Giants to re-sign him next season.

Veterans are expected to report to training camp on Tuesday, with Barkley set to take the field after signing a new contract.

Three running backs, including Barkley, Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, did not sign extensions. But all three fall under the franchise label. Pollard is expected to sign the Cowboys' current offer, but it appears Jacobs will seek waivers.

Dual-threat Barkley becomes breakout star in 2018

Barkley, 26, was a star running back at Penn State and the Giants selected him with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Barkley proved himself as a dual-threat running back during his rookie season. In 16 games in 2018, he scored a total of 15 touchdowns, including 11 rushing touchdowns and 4 receiving touchdowns. He ran 261 times for 1,307 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry. He also had 91 catches for 721 yards and 7.9 yards per catch. The NFL named Barkley the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

In 2019, Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain. He wasn't expected to play for two months but returned after playing just three games. In 13 games, he rushed 217 times for 1,003 yards but only six touchdowns. He caught 52 passes for 438 yards and two touchdowns. Despite an ankle injury, Barkley is the only Giants running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in his first two seasons in the league.

In 2020, Barkley suffered a torn cruciate ligament in the second week. He played in only two games and missed the rest of the season.

In 2021, Barkley was again slowed by a high ankle sprain and missed four games. In 13 games, he totaled 856 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry, the lowest mark of his career.

Barkley rebounded last season and missed just one game in 2022. In 16 games, he rushed 295 times for 1,312 yards, a career high. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He caught 57 passes for 338 yards but no touchdown catches. Barkley ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards last season.

Buckley bets on himself

The Giants and Barkley attempted to negotiate a contract extension, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement before the July deadline.

The NFL has become a pass-first league, and as a result, running backs no longer command the high salaries they once did. This is a league-wide issue during the contract boom for quarterbacks and wide receivers.

In Barkley's case, he has an injury history dealing with an upper ankle sprain and knee reconstruction, which is why the Giants were hesitant to meet his demands for the guaranteed portion of his contract. Barkley turned down a three-year contract extension in which he would have made about $13 million per season but had only $19.5 million guaranteed.

"This is what it is," Barkley tweeted after the talks broke down.

Between the high probability of injury and the current market value of running backs, Barkley finds himself in a stalemate with the Giants. It's one of those ugly moments when a beloved player finds himself at a financial crossroads. When a player must negotiate a new contract, he's faced with the harsh reality that the NFL is a business and realizes he's just cannon fodder on the field.

Barkley could test free agency next offseason and get a better contract if he stays healthy and puts up big numbers this season. However, the Giants could reapply the franchise tag.

This upcoming season, ESPN ranks Barkley as the fourth running back in its fantasy football projections.

Futures Market: Betting on the Giants in 2023

The Giants have signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a multi-year contract extension and secured Barkley for at least next season.

The Giants went 9-7-1 last season under rookie head coach Brian Daboll. They qualified for the playoffs as a wild-card team. They earned the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs, but were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles after beating the Minnesota Vikings on Wild Card Weekend.

The Giants enter the season with a projected win/loss of 7.5.

The Giants have a +160 chance to make the playoffs, according to DraftKings betting. The odds of missing the playoffs are -190.

The Giants have +6500 odds to win Super Bowl 58. As the eighth-ranked team on the NFL Futures Board, the Giants have a +2500 chance to win the NFC Championship. The Philadelphia Eagles are 135 favorites to win the NFC East, followed by the Dallas Cowboys (+190), Giants (+850) and Washington Commanders (+1600) . . The Giants are expected to finish third in the division.