The New York Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley have failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension. Barkley was given the franchise tag in March, which meant he had the option to either sign a one-year contract for $10.1 million or hold out from playing the season.
Barkley expressed his displeasure with being tagged, considering his contributions to the team, where he ran for a career-best 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl. However, the Giants’ franchise tag offer didn’t meet his expectations, and he felt it was a sign of disrespect after being one of the main faces of the franchise for the past five years.
The $10.1 million salary would still make Barkley one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, but he wanted a long-term deal similar to other top earners at his position, like Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry, and Nick Chubb.
The Giants’ decision to use the franchise tag on Barkley might be related to his history of injuries and the trend of devaluing the running back position in recent years. He had an impressive rookie season in 2018 but dealt with injuries in subsequent years, including an ACL injury in 2020.
The Giants and Barkley’s representatives attempted to negotiate a deal before the deadline, but they were not successful in reaching an agreement. With the deadline passed, Barkley now has the option to play for the one-year tender or potentially sit out a significant part of training camp.
Other players who received the franchise tag this year, such as Lamar Jackson, Daron Payne, and Evan Engram, all secured long-term deals with their respective teams. However, players like Barkley and Tony Pollard of the rival Dallas Cowboys did not reach new agreements and have the option to play under their one-year tenders. Pollard signed his tender, but Barkley did not.
Josh Jacobs, the star running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, has failed to reach a long-term contract extension with the team. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,653 yards but the Raiders still struggled, finishing with a 6-11 record.
The Raiders placed the franchise tag on Jacobs in March, which means he would play the upcoming season on a one-year deal worth $10.1 million if he chooses to return to the team. However, Jacobs has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the franchise tag and has even mentioned that he might consider sitting out training camp and potentially the entire season if he’s forced to play under the tag.
The changing climate for running backs in the NFL has played a role in Jacobs’ situation. In recent years, the value of workhorse running backs has diminished, and teams are less willing to commit to long-term contracts for the position.
Jacobs’ potential absence from training camp adds further uncertainty to the Raiders, who also had quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and first-round draft pick Tyree Wilson miss organized team activities due to foot injuries.