Are the Giants actively attempting to retain Saquon Barkley?
Several NFL teams may be interested in acquiring Saquon Barkley in free agency, but the New York Giants are reportedly making a concerted effort to keep the running back on their roster.
According to NFL reporter Josina Anderson, the Giants and Barkley held a positive meeting during the NFL Combine. Anderson indicated that the Giants are exploring various options to re-sign Barkley.
The Giants are unlikely to utilize the franchise tag on Barkley, which carries a $12 million salary for 2024. Instead, they are considering negotiating either a short-term or long-term contract with him. Barkley is said to prefer reaching a deal with his original team rather than exploring free agency.
Despite a challenging season in 2023, where he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in a struggling Giants offense, Barkley, who recently turned 27, has showcased his value when healthy. In the previous season, he averaged 4.4 yards per carry. Alongside his rushing prowess, Barkley has also demonstrated his ability as a pass-catching threat, averaging 28.4 receiving yards per game throughout his career.
Selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley has been linked to an AFC playoff team if he were to depart from the Giants.
