Did Barkley cave? What’s his future with Giants? We answer 5 big questions

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Because the New York Giants‘ veterans reported to coaching camp on Tuesday, there was a shock awaiting them as star operating again Saquon Barkley was within the constructing earlier than 8 a.m. Many did not count on to see him till September.

Barkley had agreed to a one-year deal as an alternative of taking part in on the $10.091 million franchise tender. He acquired a $2 million upfront signing bonus and has $1 million out there in incentives in a contract that may attain as much as $11 million. However he didn’t get any ensures the crew wouldn’t use the franchise tag once more subsequent yr.

The $11 million money worth on Barkley’s new contract ranks third amongst operating backs in 2023 behind solely the Tennessee Titans‘ Derrick Henry ($16.4M) and the Cleveland Browns‘ Nick Chubb ($14.9M), in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info.

After 9 months of negotiations, this was the place they landed. In all probability not the place both aspect anticipated this to go once they started speaking a few new contract through the bye week final yr. In all probability not what Barkley’s operating again brethren needed to see as they combat for a extra profitable market on the place.

ESPN NFL front-office analyst Mike Tannenbaum described the deal as “extremely rare,” and he mentioned the final time a tagged participant acquired more cash on a one-year deal was in 2005 when Edgerrin James signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

So why did the deal occur now? And did Barkley cave? Giants reporter Jordan Raanan and nationwide NFL reporter Dan Graziano answered 5 compelling questions surrounding the deal.

Why did this occur now?

London: It appears fairly clear Barkley needed to get this out of the best way and report back to coaching camp. Heck, he did not even combat till the bitter finish for the elimination of the franchise tag subsequent yr.

However Barkley is a participant who may be very acutely aware of his picture. That was evident when he mentioned at his AMPT soccer camp final month that he did not like how the negotiations have been being portrayed publicly. He mentioned the protection made him look “grasping.” Barkley preaches being a team-first man who prioritizes profitable. No matter it takes. Getting this out of the best way now permits for the cloud that was about to forged over coaching camp to be eliminated.

Did Barkley cave by agreeing to this deal?

Graziano: Sure. This can be a Secretariat-at-the-Belmont stage win for the Giants. Barkley may have insisted on a clause that prohibited the Giants from franchising him once more subsequent yr, however he did not. He may have sat out coaching camp and brought this deal a month from now, however he did not. He may have not less than sat out ONE SINGLE DAY of coaching camp and brought this deal Wednesday, however he did not.

Barkley agreeing to this deal tells us he knew he was crushed, that each one of his leverage went out the window as soon as a long-term deal wasn’t carried out by the July 17 deadline. So he will get the power to make $900,000 in incentives, and he will get a piece of the cash up entrance, however there is not any actual materials win right here for Barkley, whose best-case situation is to undergo all of this once more subsequent offseason.

What influence will it have on different operating backs on the lookout for offers?

Graziano: Yeah, it is powerful to think about Barkley being invited onto the following operating again Zoom name, proper? This does not assist anyone. Positive, it offers a framework for the Las Vegas Raiders and Josh Jacobs to discover a resolution to their an identical downside, however there is not any cause to imagine the Raiders wish to supply Jacobs something greater than the tag, and there is not any cause to imagine Jacobs is as able to give up as was Barkley.

If you happen to’re Jonathan Taylor on the lookout for an extension from the Indianapolis Colts, that is no assist. If you happen to’re Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette or Kareem Hunt — all free brokers on the lookout for houses — that is no assist. However neither was Joe Mixon taking a roughly 50% pay reduce a few weeks in the past to keep away from being launched by the Cincinnati Bengalsor Austin Thank you‘s meager decision to his dispute with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The details are the details, and proper now the very fact is that nobody — NO ONE — desires to pay a operating again and even appears like they should. Within the real-world image of the present market, that is the best possible that Barkley may do, and that is a disgrace for all of them.

What does it imply for Barkley’s future with the Giants?

London: This is not going to get rid of any unhealthy style left in Barkley’s mouth from the troublesome negotiations. The Giants did not quit a ton right here. They nonetheless have the franchise tag to make use of or grasp over his head subsequent yr. Barkley desires to stay with the Giants, and he has mentioned repeatedly he desires to stay a “Big for all times.” However this does not change the truth that common supervisor Joe Schoen has his limits on what he believes Barkley is value.

One government instructed me not too long ago that even when Barkley has one other nice season, his worth seemingly decreases in 2024 as a result of he is a yr older with extra put on and tear on his physique.

How vital for the Giants’ offense was getting the deal carried out now?

London: There’s a profit to having Barkley in camp. It permits him to be in soccer form for the beginning of the season and get his timing down with the offensive line. The Giants additionally made plenty of adjustments to the receiving core this offseason, and actually, the offense as an entire is predicted to look totally different. Having him within the constructing and on the sector (even when his workload is probably going restricted) can solely assist work out among the kinks.

However the largest profit may be that Barkley’s teammates do not need to reply questions on his absence all summer time and the potential distractions that come together with that. As an alternative, it could possibly be a comparatively drama-free camp.