11-13-2023, 01:42 AM
The NFL's franchise tag deadline pa sed back in March ahead of free agency, but there is another important deadline approaching for franchise-tagged players.Players hit with the tag during the offseason have until Monday, July 17 at 4 p.m. Rashad Weaver Jersey ET to agree to a long-term deal with the team that franchised them. If that deadline pa ses and no deal is reached, then the player's only option to play that season will be on the one-year franchise tender.Many of the NFL's tagged players have already signed the tender, or they have signed lucrative extensions with their teams. However, Saquon Barkley isn't among them, and it doesn't seem like he will be by the time the deadline pa ses.Barkley and the Giants are embroiled in a contract dispute because the star running back doesn't want to play on the franchise tag. He wants to sign a long-term contract, but the team hasn't seemed interested in reciprocating thus far.If Barkley doesn't get the deal he wants, he will have two options. He can play on the franchise tag or he can hold out.It seems like he might take the latter option; and if he does, there will be plenty of questions about how long that holdout may last.MORE: Here's what to know about Barkley's contract situation as it enters the spotlight ahead of Giants training camp.The Giants placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Barkley on March 7, days ahead of NFL free agency. That effectively guaranteed that New York would Kevin Byard Jersey be able to retain the back unle s a team offered him a significant deal that the Giants declined to match. And in that case, they would receive multiple first-round picks.While the Giants were happy to keep Barkley after re-signing Daniel Jones to a long-term contract extension, the 26-year-old was hoping to land a contract that makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid running backs. To date, it doesn't appear that the two sides have gotten close to a mutually beneficial deal. reports that Barkley and the Giants are at a "stalemate" as the franchise tag extension deadline approaches. And if the two parties don't bridge that gap, Barkley may hold out into the season.Saquon Barkley has made it clear the franchise tag is undesirable. Im told his availability for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys will be in serious question if he does not get a long-term deal from the Giants. Dianna Ru sini (@diannaESPN) This shouldn't nece sarily surprise the Giants. as a result of this contract dispute, an indication that he was serious about wanting a lucrative long-term deal.As such, the threat of a holdout seems real. So, unle s the Giants believe that they can either survive without Barkley or that his holdout is a bluff, they need to ramp up their negotiating efforts.If Barkley decides to play on the franchise tag, he would receive a one-year contract from the Giants worth just under$10.1 million. That would make him the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL.Barkley has only signed one other contract during his NFL career his cost-controlled rookie deal worth $31.19 million over four years. He also played on a $7.2 million fifth-year option in 2022, so the sum he would receive while Jordan Roos Jersey playing on the franchise tag would be the largest of his career.MORE: As mentioned, Barkley would be the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL in terms of average annual value (AAV) if he signs the franchise tender with the Giants. He would be tied with the Raiders' Josh Jacobs and the Cowboys' Tony Pollard in AAV, as both of those players are also set to play on the franchise tag in 2023.Below is a look at the 10 highest-paid running backs for 2023, per .RankPlayerTeamAAV1Christian McCaffrey49ers$16,015,8532Alvin KamaraSaints$15,000,0003Derrick HenryTitans$12,500,0004Nick ChubbBrowns$12,200,0005Joe MixonBengals$12,000,0006Aaron JonesPackers$11,500,0007Saquon BarkleyGiants$10,091,000Tony PollardCowboys$10,091,000Josh JacobsRaiders$10,091,00010James ConnerCardinals$7,000,000It isn't clear exactly what type of long-term contract would appease Barkley's demands, but he would likely be eyeing a deal similar toDerrick Henry's (four years, $50 million) at a bare minimum.And if he is looking for a contract in the range of Christian McCaffrey (four years, $64 million) or Alvin Kamara (five years, $75 million), it's easy to understand why the Giants would be reluctant to dole that out. After all, running backs tend to get injured frequently and thus have shorter shelf lives than other positions.Of course, it can be argued that Barkley was one Matthias Farley Jersey of the Giants' keys to succe s during their resurgent 2022 season that saw them go 11-5-1 and win a playoff game for the first time since 2011. He posted 1,650 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns for the team during the 2022 regular season while tying a career-high in touches with 352.That said, Barkley has only played at least 16 games in a season twice in his five-year career. He has frequently been banged up and has mi sed playing time as a result; that, in turn, has impacted his statistical output.Below is a look at his stats by season in each of his five years with the Giants.YearGamesCarriesRushing yardsRushing TDsYards/carryCatchesReceiving yardsReceiving TDs2018162611,307115.09172142019132171,00364.652438220202193401.8660020211316259323.74126322022162951,312104.4573380There's no denying that Barkley, when healthy, is a top-tier running back who does a lot to help Daniel Jones and the New York offense succeed. The Giants are just going to have to decide if he is worth the hefty price tag he is seeking and whether they want to risk losing him for any amount of time to a holdout.BENDER: Below is a look at the Giants' depth chart for 2023, which is topped by Barkley and contains some familiar names:RankPlayer1Saquon Barkley2Matt Breida3Eric Gray4Gary Brightwell5Jashaun CorbinIf Barkley does hold out, the Giants are going to be thin at running back. They have a respected veteran backup on the roster behind Barkley in Matt Breida, but he has been injury-prone during his career.Meanwhile, fifth-round rookie Eric Gray and 2021 sixth-round pick Gary Brightwell are relatively inexperienced, so trusting either as a full-time replacement for Barkley would come with some Jevon Kearse Jersey risk.There are plenty of veteran running backs available in free agency, so the Giants could always sign a player like Dalvin Cook, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette or Ezekiel Elliott if Barkley holds out. Still, none are as talented as Barkley at this point in their respective careers.Barkley has earned just over$38.6 millionin his career to date, per Spotrac.com. Thus, the $10.1 million he would make playing on the franchise tag is no small sum for the 26-year-old back.Below is a year-by-year breakdown of how much he has made during his NFL career, with his rookie season being the campaign during which he received the most money.YearEarnings2018$21,247,0922019$1,897,9432020$3,405,8862021$4,833,8292022$7,217,000Total$38,601,750If Barkley plays on the franchise tag, his career earnings would increase to $48.7 million. If he signs a contract extension, that number could rise dramatically depending on how much money he is given upon signing.
Click here Click here Click here
Click here Click here Click here