LAS VEGAS — Within the case of Saquon Barkley and the Giants, probably the most complicated of contract negotiations has the only resolution.
The Giants ought to take Barkley at his phrase and let the free-agent market decide his worth, with the handshake settlement that he’ll convey his finest provide again to the desk earlier than signing elsewhere. Put an finish to haggling over whether or not he’s value roughly $23 million assured on a three-year contract, because the Giants supplied at their max, or barely extra, as Barkley sought, per sources.
Meaning no second franchise tag earlier than the March 5 deadline to maintain Barkley from negotiating with different groups. No debilitating $12.1 million cost on the Giants’ wage cap. No extra pressure if the perimeters can’t agree on a multiyear contract after they meet later this month.
“I wouldn’t be towards that,” Barkley instructed The Publish when pitched the hypothetical situation throughout an unique interview at Tremendous Bowl LVIII. “That’s honest.”
So long as the Giants belief Barkley, the final word resolution nonetheless would relaxation with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll in a pivotal yr: Retain the perfect playmaker within the NFL’s third-lowest scoring offense or transfer on from a working again with an harm historical past who turned 27 years previous Friday as a result of analytics recommend a decline is coming.
“They know the place I wish to be,” Barkley mentioned. “Possession mentioned they need me to be a Big for all times, too. Final yr, we tried our greatest on the finish. Enterprise occurred, and we didn’t get it executed.”
If Barkley is true about what he’s value, the Giants can match or high his finest provide and manipulate the salary-cap cost to be lower than the tag in 2024 — or let Barkley stroll, say he was out of their value vary and check out the choice technique of a rotation of younger, low-cost backs as the cash is redirected to different urgent wants.
If Barkley is incorrect, the Giants may re-sign him for lower than imagined.
“I’m not onerous to work with. I do know sources got here out to attempt to make it look like I’m grasping, nevertheless it’s not even near being like that,” Barkley mentioned. “They know the place my coronary heart is. If it doesn’t work, I get it. Hey, it’s not like my soccer profession is over.”
Barkley’s annual look on Tremendous Bowl Radio Row and seeing an elite working again within the recreation — the 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey — supplied a reminder of what’s essential within the again half of his profession.
“I wish to win a Tremendous Bowl,” Barkley mentioned. “It doesn’t matter what, from right here on out, I simply wish to be aggressive, whether or not it’s with the Giants or some other place.
“There’s a lot extra good soccer inside me. Christian is a yr older than me, and I feel he’s the perfect working again within the NFL, however I feel I’m simply as proficient. Hopefully, I can proceed to point out that.”
The Giants have missed the playoffs in 5 of Barkley’s six seasons. The exception was Barkley’s career-best yr, which led to the tag after he rejected an early provide with the next annual common however much less assured cash than the place talks ended.
“I don’t assume I made any selections incorrect,” Barkley mentioned. “As soon as they tagged me, the dialog switched, which is anticipated as a result of that they had all of the leverage.”
Barkley’s leverage could possibly be the Giants’ have to bounce again quick from a 5-12 season.
“Can we proceed including items? After all. Each staff can,” Barkley mentioned. “I feel Dabes is a good coach. Final yr didn’t go our approach in any respect, however I consider the Giants can proceed to be a contender.”
Let the market decide if he is part of it.