5 NY Giants with the most to prove in 2023 season

3. RB Saquon Barkley

Following an offseason full of disappointments with his potential contract extension, it seems like Saquon Barkley very well could be playing the 2023 season on a franchise tag. If this is the case, he needs to show not only the Giants, but the entire NFL, that he is a player worth the big-time money he wants.

When healthy, Barkley has consistently been one of the best running backs in the league. The problem, though, is that Barkley has only been "healthy" for two seasons. This obviously isn't his fault, but Barkley needs to show that he can string together consecutive elite seasons if he wants to earn his Christian McCaffery money.

Last season, Barkley ran the ball 295 times for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns in addition to catching 57 passes for 338 yards. While there was a notable decline in his production as the season went on due to an apparent shoulder issue, Barkley was a huge reason for the Giants' success.

If Barkley can remain fully healthy in '23 and put up similar, if not better numbers than he did last season, then he very well could earn the big-time contract he so desperately wants.