Giants GM Joe Schoen doesn't rule out using franchise tag on Saquon Barkley
The New York Giants are once again negotiating with running back Saquon Barkley. After reports this suggested that the team won’t franchise tag the starting back, general manager Joe Schoen commented on the potential for that move at the NFL Scouting Combine. Schoen told reporters that the tag is “not off the table” for Barkley.
“I think the world of Saquon and I still think he can play,” Schoen said. “My value for Saquon hasn’t changed… He’s a guy we’d like to have bac … We’ll see if we can get something done with him.”
If the team doesn’t want to pay Barkley upwards of $12 million for next season, they can instead negotiate a deal of lesser value for the former first-round draft pick. Last year, Barkley refused to sign his franchise tag deal for $10.091 million, but he did end up signing a deal with equivalent value but greater incentives.
If they don’t get a deal done, he’ll enter free agency when the new league year hits on March 13. Other teams can begin legal tampering with Barkley on March 11. The deadline to decide on the franchise tag is March 5.
Giants weigh Barkley’s value for 2024
The franchise tag can be used to secure a player’s contract for an additional season at the pre-set value — a number determined by averaging the top five contract amounts at that position in the league. Though four players received franchise tags last season, only one player agreed to play on the tag after their team opted to use it – Cowboys running back Tony Pollard.
NFL insider Adam Schefter shared several tidbits on Monday regarding upcoming franchise tag decisions. The Dallas Cowboys reportedly won’t tag Pollard again and the Titans don’t have plans to tag Derrick Henry, nor do the Chargers with Austin Ekeler. After failing to get Josh Jacobs to sign on the tag last season, the Raiders are also not planning to tag him again.
This season, Barkley rushed for 962 yards in 14 games with six touchdowns for New York. He also had 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. It was just the third season in his career in which he didn’t surpass 1,000 rushing yards, but he only played 14 of 17 games. Last year, he had 1,312 rushing yards and 338 receiving yards.
The second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Barkley has been a dominant force for the New York Giants in almost every season since. He’s earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2018) and two Pro Bowl nominations.