Moments after his crew’s season-ending 38-7 loss to the Eagles on Saturday evening, Saquon Barkley was requested about his future with the Giants heading into the offseason.
A former first-round decide, Barkley is ready to turn out to be a free agent when the brand new league yr begins on March 16. Whereas he is not certain whether or not or not he can be again with the crew, the two-time Professional Bowl working again expressed optimism concerning his future with Massive Blue.
“I am unable to envision that being my final time in a Giants uniform,” Barkley mentioned following his crew’s divisional spherical playoff loss, by way of NFL Media.
The 2022 season was an vital one for Barkley, who performed at a Professional Bowl stage after accidents dogged him through the earlier two seasons. This season, Barkley ran for a career-high 1,312 yards. He additionally ran for 10 scores whereas catching 57 passes for 338 yards in 16 regular-season video games.
Barkley performed an integral position within the Giants’ upset win over the Vikings on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend. He had two touchdowns on the bottom whereas totaling 109 all-purpose yards on 14 touches. Barkley has 82 yards on 11 touches in opposition to the Eagles. His 39-yard run helped arrange the Giants’ solely landing.
“I needed to point out them the man they drafted remains to be right here,” Barkley mentioned. “I hope I did that. Everybody is aware of I might like to be a Large for all times, however I actually cannot give 100% solutions. Someday this week, I will have a dialog with my agent Kim and see what’s up.”
Barkley undoubtedly elevated his market worth this previous season. His market worth is at the moment projected at $47.8 million over 4 years for an annual wage of slightly below $12 million yearly, in keeping with Spotrac. Whereas that wage wouldn’t elevate his standing among the many league’s highest-paid working backs, it could make him the ninth working again to command a wage that pays him at the very least $10 million per season.
Christian McCaffrey at the moment paces all working backs in common wage at simply over $16 million. Alvin Kamara, Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook dinner spherical out the checklist of working backs who make $15 million yearly. Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon are the one different working backs who at the moment common making at the very least $12 million per season. Barkley proved this season that, when wholesome, his expertise instructions related compensation.
The Giants have the specified cap area ought to they determine to additional put money into Barkley. The Giants at the moment have the third-most cap area within the NFL and essentially the most within the ultra-competitive NFC East.