The New York Giants are currently in the throes of negotiating to keep quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, their two most marketable and recognizable players.
The issue is, of course, money. Both players are still young and both are productive. They both command contracts near the top third of the league at their positions, which is something the Giants may not be able to digest financially this offseason.
The Giants rolled the dice on Jones and Barkley by allowing them to play out their rookie contracts and lost.
They learned this season that Jones was their long-term solution under center and that Barkley was still a top back. Now, they have to pay dearly to keep them around. They were prepared to pay one but not both.
The franchise tag could be used on one of them but that isn’t optimal, especially for Barkley. Jones is reportedly seeking a deal that will pay him over $40 million per season. The Giants aren’t quite thinking that high for him, either.
Falling by wayside are other impending free agents the Giants would like to retain, such as safety Julian Love.
In a recent mailbag, veteran Giants beat reporter Patricia Traina said she doesn’t see the Giants using the franchise tag on Love, either.
That move would cost $14 million for the season. The Giants don’t have the cap space to do that, either, so Love will only be retained through a long-term deal.
That may only be able to happen if the Giants turn away from Barkley or create more cap space via a bold move such as trading defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
Love is integral to coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense. Martindale uses a three-safety rotation to drive the defense. Love led the Giants in tackles in 2022 and was clearly one of the leaders on defense.
General manager Joe Scheon said in his year-end presser that he wants to bring love back but did not commit, knowing he has bigger fish in the pan to fry first.
