A day after the New York Giants rewarded quarterback Daniel Jones with a new four-year, $160-million contract, general manager Joe Schoen indicated that his club isn’t done negotiating with its stars.
Running back Saquon Barkley could be up next for a long-term agreement. The Giants placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Barkley prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. If the two sides are unable to agree on a new deal by July 17, Barkley will play on a one-year tender worth close to $10.1 million, according to Over the Cap.
“We’re going to continue to negotiate,” Schoen said, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “We love Saquon. He’s a good teammate. He’s a captain. He’s a hell of a player. So, right now, he’s under the franchise tag. As we build the team and continue with our offseason plan, we’ll do what’s best for the team. We’re still mapping that out.”
The Giants GM also revealed that the team has begun discussing an extension with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The Clemson product tallied career highs with 68 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss in 2022. He’s set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract next season.
New York previously offered Barkley’s camp an annual salary of $12 million during a bye week last November, with the team increasing its offer slightly in recent weeks, sources told Raanan.
There’s optimism that an extension with Barkley could be reached prior to the start of free agency on March 15, per Raanan. Schoen would also like to see the star tailback return on a long-term deal, which would help the team free up additional funds to address other positions on the roster ahead of free agency and the draft.
Barkley expressed a desire to avoid being tagged after the Giants were eliminated in the divisional round by the Philadelphia Eagles. Although Schoen didn’t talk to Barkley in-depth since using the tag, he understands why it might be frustrating but reiterated that the sensational back is part of the team’s plans going forward.
Barkley’s dynamic ability was on full display during the 2022 campaign, as he rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to earning his second Pro Bowl nod.
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