Will the NY Giants and running back Saquon Barkley get on the same page in terms of an extension? That’s a question we hope Joe Schoen will have an answer for in the coming weeks. In addition to trying to figure things out with Daniel Jones, making Barkley happy is a top priority for the front office.
However, how much money does Barkley think the G-Men will be able to put on the table? On Sunday, Barkley said he’s realistic with his contract expectations and that he’s not hoping to reset the market for RBs. However, insider Ralph Vacchiano is reporting that the G-Men offered Barkley right around $12 million per season on a new deal during the fall, and he turned it down.
… Barkley was offered around $12M/season during the bye week, per sources, and Schoen said they weren’t close in value. Barkley said yesterday he didn’t necessarily want to set the market, though I continue to hear he wants near Christian Mcaffrey’s $16M average. …
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) January 23, 2023
NY Giants RB Saquon Barkley wants top dollar from Joe Schoen
If Barkley is really expecting close to $16 million a season, then he should be ready to look elsewhere for someone to put that kind of an offer in front of him – there’s no way Schoen is going to pay him the same amount annually as Christian McCaffrey.
This past season, Barkley was a force for the G-Men, earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time since his rookie campaign. During the regular season, Barkled rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 57 receptions for 338 yards. Those numbers were great to see from a fully healthy No. 26.
However, Barkley also needs to understand that injury concerns from the previous two seasons is something that no one, including Schoen, is going to forget about. The former No. 2 overall pick is turning 26 years old next month, so he’s still in the prime of his career. Once he starts flirting with 30, though, then people are going to get worried about him losing a step or two.
Barkley is explosive with the ball in his hands, and Schoen knows how important he is for this offense. With that said, the Giants have loads of other improvements they need to make this offseason and they must be smart with their money.
They’re not going to overpay Barkley on a 3-4 year deal. If Barkley wants to return to East Rutherford, we think a contract in the $12-$13 million per season range would be more than fair. Schoen won’t touch $16 million. It’s simply not going to happen.
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