Saquon Barkley admits he considered sitting out 2023 season

Saquon Barkley and his contract situation with the Giants jump-started an NFL conversation about the value of running backs. And he thought about sitting out the season.

However, Barkley conceded Thursday that a season-long boycott might not have been his best trump card to get the best deal. He said that he had an “epiphany” about what he should do. It involved the long game.

“I’ll be completely honest.” Saquon Barkley told reporters. “If I sat out this year, and we didn’t have a good record, do you think that’s gonna make another team in free agency or the Giants want to have me come back the next year after I sat out a whole year? ‘We want to give you $15 million a year now.’ I don’t think that’s how it’s going to work.

“After having conversations and really breaking it down,” Barkley said. “You say the only way that I’m going to make a change or do something that’s gonna benefit for myself and my family is doing what I do best. That’s showing up, playing the game I love and do it at a high level.”

However, it did look like a tense situation between Saquon Barkley and the Giants, the team that selected him with the second pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley back in March. That meant the team’s offer was $10.1 million, fully guaranteed, for the season. Then sides had until July 17 to make a long-term deal. That never materialized.

Barkley dropped hints he would skip training camp, which certainly placed doubts on how much he would play this fall, if at all. But as the Giants reported for training camp, Barkley said yes to the Giants offer.

Saquon Barkley explains why he decided to come back for start of training camp

“I had an epiphany” pic.twitter.com/rrCnkiMVIH

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) July 27, 2023

In the end, the Giants agreed to pay Saquon Barkley a deal worth up to $11 million, which includes about $1 million worth of incentives, with a $2 million signing bonus. In order to achieve those incentives, Barkley would have to surpass what he achieved in 2022. The goals are to score at least 11 touchdowns, with 65 receptions and 1,350 rushing yards. Plus, the Giants would need to make the playoffs.

Top NFL running backs gathered via Zoom last Saturday to discuss the state of their finances. Running backs now are the lowest paid offensive position in the NFL. A franchise tag, which represents the average of the top five salaries over the past five years, is worth $10.1 million.

Josh Jacobs, who led the NFL in rushing last season, still hasn’t agreed to sign his franchise tag tender from the Raiders. Dalvin Cook, who has rushed for at least 1,000 yards for the past four years, still has no team. He’s visiting the Jets this weekend. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott, the former Cowboy with two league rushing titles, still hasn’t signed.

Barkley said it’s a “flat-out lie” to say he’s not disappointed with how the negotiations unfolded. And it could all be a repeat of what may happen in 2024.