Saquon Barkley isn’t demanding to be the NFL’s highest-paid operating again.
In his most revealing feedback up to now about his pending free company, the face of the Giants implied Sunday that he’s keen to present slightly on his finish to be sure that a multiyear extension will get finalized. The 2 sides briefly negotiated through the bye week however shut down talks till after the season due to a time crunch — not as a result of the numbers have been far aside, sources instructed The Put up on the time.
“I’m not too involved about resetting any markets or something like that,” Barkley stated on the heels of a season-ending loss. “I’m sensible. I do know what I used to be on tempo to do, however having two years full of accidents (2019-20) and a season of not performing to the extent I do know I can carry out (2021) doesn’t assist. However I feel I used to be in a position to present the caliber of participant I’m. That was my objective this yr. I used to be in a position to accomplish that.”
The 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey’s $16 million per yr is the very best annual common wage for a operating again. The common of the top-five offers for operating backs is $14.2 million per yr — which looks as if a candy spot for compromise on a multiyear deal — and $23.5 million totally assured.
The wage cap might enhance by about 12 % to a record-high of $220 million per crew in 2023, which implies brokers will argue for contracts to be inflated accordingly. The Put up’s Ian O’Connor beforehand reported that Barkley turned down a three-or four-year deal averaging about $12 million-$12.5 million regardless of his repeated want to stay a Big for all times, per sources.
“I couldn’t think about that being the final time in a Giants uniform,” Barkley stated of the playoff loss to the Eagles. “However that’s the character of the enterprise. I can’t management any of that. I’ve been vocal about how I really feel. I’m excited for the long run, it doesn’t matter what occurs.”
Barkley, who ran for a career-high 1,312 yards and scored 10 touchdowns through the common season, stated he’ll speak with agent Kim Miale this week to debate numbers.
“We’d’ve liked to have gotten the deal carried out through the bye week,” Barkley stated. “Clearly, it wasn’t in a position to get carried out. It’s enjoyable to study the enterprise facet of it and the numbers of it.”
The Giants’ leverage for reducing Barkley’s asking worth is the specter of a franchise tag and a one-year, $10.1 million contract that rubs all operating backs mistaken due to their danger of damage. Then again, enjoying hardball with the crew’s finest playmaker might ship the mistaken message of dedication to a younger locker room with many core items nearing first-time extension talks.
“He’s the perfect operating again within the league,” quarterback Daniel Jones stated. “I feel he proved that this yr to everybody and confirmed what he’s able to doing as a dynamic a part of this offense. His well being is clearly a giant a part of that, and he deserves all the things that’s forward of him.”