It’s looking more and more likely that star running back Saquon Barkley will leave the Giants in free agency this offseason.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen will continue contract negotiations with Barkley’s camp, but is unlikely to franchise tag him, according to ESPN. Which isn’t exactly a shocker.
Tagging Barkley for a second straight offseason is the only way Schoen can make sure Barkley doesn’t leave. The two-week tag window closes next Tuesday, six days before free agency effectively begins, with the opening of the official negotiating period.
Barkley, entering Year 7, has never been able to explore true free agency in his career. He knows it’s now or never for him. So after playing last season under the franchise tag, why would he limit himself and not explore true free agency this offseason, now that he has a chance?
And ultimately, all it takes is one win-now team to decide it wants to hand Barkley a lucrative contract that pays him more than Schoen’s offer. Which is why Barkley is probably gone.
The Giants, of course, are not a win-now team. So it makes little sense for Schoen to pay big bucks for a 27-year-old running back with a history of durability issues.
Tagging Barkley this offseason would have cost Schoen $12.1 million — $2 million more than he made while playing last season on a one-year tag contract.
The $12.1 million tag also would’ve occupied a significant chunk of Schoen’s available salary cap space for free agency. Schoen will have about $36.3 million in cap space once he cuts offensive guard Mark Glowinski — a no-brainer move.
Though free agency doesn’t start until March 11 — and the official signing period doesn’t begin until March 13 — it really cranks up this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That’s where groundwork is laid for contracts, as players’ agents and team executives meet.
And now, the word is out that Schoen likely won’t tag Barkley. Which means Barkley’s camp will be able to…
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