5 bold predictions for the NY Giants and Joe Schoen this offseason

2. Joe Schoen signs Saquon Barkley to a four-year deal

While it originally seemed as if the Giants would place the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley this offseason, it is beginning to seem more and more likely that the front office would rather work with Barkley towards a pretty big extension – one that’s fair for both sides, of course.

Barkley knows that he can’t reset the market, as he recently  mentioned his injury history and how that would have an impact on his negotiations. The Giants previously offered Barkley a deal worth around $12 million a year, which he turned down. Would a four-year contract worth $13-$14 million a campaign work for Saquon?

In 16 regular season games, Barkley ran the ball 295 times for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, while catching 57 passes for 338 yards. While he started the season off looking like one of the best running backs in the league, some minor injuries slowed down his production as the season progressed.

Regardless, Barkley is one of the few running backs in the league that would be worth getting signed to a big-time contract. His value to this team can’t be overstated. Schoen said at the Senior Bowl that he’s in contact with Barkley’s reps. Let’s see if the two sides can finally get on the same page.