New York Giants, Saquon Barkley talks are 'back on,' Ian Rapoport says

The NFL deadline for franchise tag players to secure a long-term deal before having to play under the tag in 2023 continues to creep closer. In recent days, contract talks have picked up between the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley, who was tagged earlier this year.

That’s positive progress from a week ago, when the two sides appeared at odds.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided the latest on a segment for NFL Total Access recently.

“As the clock ticks to the July 17 deadline for franchise tag players to get long-term extensions, let’s take a look at the three top running backs still in flux,” Rapoport said. “First of all the (New York) Giants and Saquon Barkley. Now he said recently at his camp that he’s not going to make a definitive declaration of what he’s going to do for the 2023 season until we get to that deadline. And to be sure, there is still room here for a deal.”

In 2022, Barkley totaled 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, while also adding 57 catches for 338 yards. He was a versatile threat, continuing to excel in all areas of the game.

Naturally, Barkley wants to be compensated appropriately.

“Talks are back on between the (New York) Giants and Saquon Barkley,” Rapoport said. “Now we’ll see if they’re able to get to the point where he can become one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, but at the very least Saquon Barkley is expected to be back with the Giants at a one-year, fully guaranteed tag, it’s just a matter of is he going to get the security that he wants? Time will tell on that one.”

For New York, the appeal of having Barkley play under the franchise tag is lowering the salary demands for the organization in the short term. However, it also increases the likelihood that Barkley could leave in the future.

That’s obviously something the New York Giants would like to avoid with Saquon Barkley coming off a monster season. A new Saquon Barkley contract would lock him in long term.

ESPN insider Jordan Raanan broke down what factors Barkley is weighing in getting to a long-term deal versus playing under the franchise tag.

“Saquon talked about this being about respect, and he said some of the things that were out there were misleading,” Raanan said. “Now what he’s talking about is the offers that he turned down, big money, and he’s being greedy in this situation. What he’s talking about in particular is the guaranteed money.

“When you’re franchised at $10.1 million, you could get franchised again the next year at 120%, that’s $12.1 million. So you’re talking $22.2 million over the next two years. If the offer does not include that guaranteed money it’s generally an offer that the player’s not going to look at favorably, that he won’t even consider. So that appears to be a sticking point in this situation, is that guaranteed money. That’s really all players care about when it comes to their contracts.”