The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen accomplished most of their goals this offseason, significantly improving the team’s roster. They’re now faster, deeper, and field a solid mix of youth and veteran experience.
The Giants also strengthened their front office and scouting departments, thrusting the entire organization forward. But they’re not entirely done yet.
There are still some lingering issues that must be addressed — some more glaring than others.
In a recent piece by Field Yates of ESPN, he breaks down one final move all 32 NFL teams should make before training camp. And when it comes to the Giants, the suggestion is an obvious one.
Extend running back Saquon Barkley
All of the usual caveats about the value of extending running backs near the top of the market apply, as it remains the position where teams can easily find capable players. However, Barkley was the offensive catalyst during New York’s resurgent 2022 season. Both sides have acknowledged a desire for an extension. Barkley wants and deserves to be paid among the top backs, but there has been reporting that he doesn’t necessarily need to be the highest-paid back in the NFL. That could indicate a sweet spot around the $14-15 million per year range.
The Giants already offered Barkley a contract worth up to $14 million per season but it was rejected, likely due to lacking guarantees over the first two seasons. Upping the AAV to $15 million won’t move the needle unless Barkley receives the front-loaded money he appears to crave.
The two sides remain deadlocked and it’s unclear if a resolution is in the cards. They have until July 17 to come to an agreement on a long-term deal or things could get rocky. At that point, Barkley has to sign his franchise tender worth $10.1 or begin his holdout, which he previously implied could linger into the regular season.
