What's the next step for NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley? That's what fans have on their minds and they're hopeful an answer comes in the near future. Over the weekend, some big news came in via Bob Brookover of NJ Advance Media, who reported Barkley turned down an offer from general manager Joe Schoen that would have paid him up to $14 million a year with incentives.
This comes after the Giants offered him around $12.5 million during the bye week last fall, which Saquon also said no thanks to. Really?
Now, word has started to arrive stating that Barkley is eyeing $16 million a year - which would match what Christian McCaffrey makes as the No. 1 paid running back in the NFL. Barkley's agent, Kim Miale, made it clear that information is not correct.
This is not true.
— Kimberly Miale (@kimmiale) May 13, 2023
NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley is still eyeing a multi-year deal from the team
McCaffrey is indeed the highest-paid RB in the game, but there's no way that Barkley should sniff that kind of money with the way the market has been set. For a lot of people out there, they think that anything in the $12-13 million range per season is more than fair for the Pro Bowler.
Barkley is coming off a sensational year for the Giants, as he rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards. His 10 rushing touchdowns were fantastic to see as well. Barkley looked like one of the best RBs in the game, which is why he wants to be paid as such.
However, it remains to be seen if he, Miale and Schoen will be able to find common ground and agree to terms on a new deal. If that doesn't happen, Barkley - if he isn't a camp holdout - will play the 2023 season on the non-exclusive franchise tag, which would pay him $10.1 million.
Barkley, nor Schoen, wants that to happen. In order for the G-Men and their star playmaker to avoid that, a new deal must be signed by the July 17 deadline.
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