As soon as the 2023 NFL Draft came to a close, all eyes turned to Saquon Barkley for NY Giants fans. With Dexter Lawrence finalizing his four-year deal as well, people are waiting to see if general manager Joe Schoen will get something completed with No. 26 too.
Despite Schoen previously saying there was no offer on the table for Barkley, there's new-found optimism that the two sides will be able to move in the right direction. If you ask NFL insider Mike Garafolo, he's confident things will get across the finish line.
But, when will the pen be put to paper on a new contract? No one knows, but folks are hoping the big news comes this week.
"In the end, it's going to get done". - @MikeGarafolo on a Saquon Barkley extension with the Giants
— Big Blue United (@BigBlueUnited) May 4, 2023
NY Giants fans are waiting for big news to come in on Saquon Barkley
Barkley is easily the most explosive player for the Giants offense. Him finishing up with 1,312 yards last season - a new career high - was awesome to see. He returned to his Pro Bowl form, which helped the Giants get back to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
His two-touchdown performance vs. the Vikings in the Wild Card Round helped make the difference for the G-Men. As things stand, though, Barkley is set to play the 2023 campaign on the non-exclusive franchise tag.
That would result in him making $10.1 million for next season, with that same number being the cap hit for Schoen. That's not ideal, which is why a new contract makes sense for the two sides. Schoen still needs to get creative with the salary cap this offseason.
Barkley no question deserves a multi-year deal from the Giants, but it has to be a number that Schoen is happy with as well. Could $13.5 million per season be enough for the two to shake hands? Only time will tell. Soon enough, we should have our answer. Schoen must find a way to get Barkley back in the building as soon as possible.
READ MORE: Early predictions for Saquon Barkley's 2023 stats