Giants' odds stay put following Saquon Barkley’s comments around potential holdout

There’s no doubt that New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is a crucial part of the team’s offense, but he is going to have to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag – if he decides to suit up at all.

Barkley and the Giants failed to come to terms on a long-term deal by this week’s deadline, leaving open the possibility that the running back could hold out. Barkley has yet to sign the franchise tag. 

The New York Giants were a playoff team in the 2022 season, but oddsmakers aren’t sold on them being over .500 in the 2023 campaign. New York’s projected win total is set at 7.5, and it hasn’t changed even with the news that Barkley won't be inking a long-term deal with the team.

New York Giants projected win total for 2023 season

Despite the fact that Barkley’s status is up in the air, Vegas isn’t budging on the Giants’ outlook. While that’s a good sign for Giants fans, the team still isn’t projected to be as good as they were in the 2022 season based on their win total at 7.5.

One reason New York’s odds have stayed put could be Barkley’s recent comments where he said he “plans on doing” what he needs to do this season. That would indicate that the former first-round pick will play out this season on the franchise tag in hopes of getting a bigger deal next offseason.

That’s great news for the Giants’ offense, but will it be enough? The team plays in one of the tougher divisions in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys both sitting in the top six in the NFL for Super Bowl odds for the 2023 season.

Barkley finished the 2022 campaign with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 scores, so if he was in danger of missing this season, it’s likely Vegas would adjust the Giants’ odds in the futures market.

While No. 26 should be in Giant blue this season, the team is going to need to prove oddsmakers wrong to reach the success it had in 2022.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.