In a surprise twist, the franchise tag-induced situation between Saquon Barkley and the Giants has been resolved. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $11MM, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).
The guaranteed base value of the contract is $10.1MM – the same as the franchise tag Barkley was set to play on during the 2023 season. $900K in incentives are in place to give him the opportunity to slightly outpace the earnings he would have seen on the tender. Rushing yards, touchdowns and receptions will yield added compensation, but only if the Giants make the postseason (Twitter links via ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). Rapoport adds that the 26-year-old will receive a $2MM signing bonus, while his colleague Mike Garafolo notes that New York will still be able to use the tag next year if they so desire (Twitter link). 
Barkley was one of three running backs who were unable to reach agreement on a long-term deal ahead of last week’s deadline for franchise tag recipients. Negotiations on that front are not allowed to re-commence until January, but NFL rules allow for one-year deals to be signed in place of the tag, even if they are worked out after the deadline. Such instances are rare, but in this case the provision has allowed for a compromise which will see the Giants’ offensive catalyst work out his contractual status (for this season) in time for training camp.
Barkley and the Giants came within roughly $2MM on both annual value and guaranteed compensation during their eleventh-hour negotiations, marking notable progress but leading to questions about why a deal could not be worked out. The team’s last offer included an increase in AAV in exchange for a lesser guaranteed figure, and it was only right up against the deadline that New York was willing to reach the $22MM mark in the latter category. That represents the amount Barkley (along with Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard) would earn on consecutive tags, which are fully guaranteed. Offers including assurances above $22MM on a multi-year contract would therefore be needed for those backs to see them as an improvement on playing out two tags.
After the deadline passed, Barkley spoke publicly about his frustrations with leaked information regarding extension talks. He also expanded on the previously-reported possibility that he would not only hold out from training camp, but skip out regular season games as well. Doing so would have resulted in $560K in lost salary per week, and left the team without the focal point of their ground game. That scenario is now off the table, though, and both parties can move forward with preparations for the season.
Having not signed his tag, Barkley would not have been subject to fines for missing camp. Now that he will be under contract, his attendance will be mandatory. His return to the team will be a welcomed development, as he looks to build off his career-best 1,312 rushing yards from last season, which helped propel to Giants to a surprise run to the divisional round of the playoffs. The financial element of his 2023 performance will still be worth watching closely, however, since today’s news leaves him eligible to be tagged for a second time after the campaign.
With Barkley’s situation now resolved and Pollard having already signed his tag, attention will now turn to Jacobs. The latter began his hold out of Raiders training camp yesterday, and he has also acknowledged the threat of missing regular season games. Whether or not this Giants-Barkley compromise provides a blueprint for a solution between Jacobs and the Raiders will be worth watching closely.
The NYG will definitely think twice before messing with Barkley again!
How? They just created the ability to tag him next year and he agreed to it. The RB meeting went something like this. “We are screwed, what do we do? Get as much as you can early on.”
If that was a response to me mine was sarcasm.
So he signed for a tiny bonus over what he was going to get anyway AND allowed himself to get tagged again? That took some deep thinking I bet. Did he do this with Aaron Rodgers in the smoke tent?
And that was what the RBs discussed during their recent RB Summit conference. LOL! A bunch of guys taking whatever is thrown at them because they have no leverage, but thinking by publicizing their meeting they’re actually making a difference.
start using /s
Running backs that had a meeting together wanting to hold out and get paid can’t be happy about this lol
They knew this could happen. Any one year deal signed now is based around the tag. I just has a signing bonus and incentives as window dressing. What they really want is either eliminating the tags or grouping non-QB skill positions the way the OL is grouped. As of now, a guard or a center would have to be tagged at the same rate as a tackle which is not far behind the WR tag. If RBs could get the WR tag, they would get nearly $20M.
Still don’t know why he passed on the 22 mill deal. In this climate, his agent did him a disservice. Unless he nixed it himself.
How did they reach a deal after the deadline passed?
I think the deadline was for long term deals.
Limited negotiation on a one-year deal with the franchise tag figure as a base is allowed. It’s similar to draft picks still signing now while their slots are set. There are benefits they can work out separately from the assigned value.
The rules apparently change daily in the NFL.
Lmao
I think the deadline caps off multi year deals. For example saquon couldn’t do 2 years 21mill after the 17th but was able to do one year 11 after incentives and no matter how great he performs he’ll be tagged again next year
Your options are…..make nothing, lose a year in your prime years and go down a leveon bell path which didn’t end well
Or
Take 10-11 million on a 1 year deal
Tough choices here when you have zero leverage.
He made the right choice
Bad decision by Barkley!
Bad decision the last several months by Barkley. Good decision today by him to reach and not hold out as he ages another year and loses more value.
Let’s hope that Jacobs signs a similar deal so that we can get some new rumors instead of endlessly re-hashing old stories.
Seems to me his agents should have had a better read on the RB market when the Giants and Barkley were negotiating last season. Of all the RBs in the league, only a couple are getting big paydays. the position is just not well valued.
Josh Jacobs better hurry up and sign that tag before they rescind it. He doesn’t have the leverage Barkley had. The Raiders aren’t trying to win, and the media won’t talk about it enough to embarrass the organization. He better get that money in the bank then get a sudden case of back spasms.
They can’t rescind it after the deadline, what’s done is done. Jacobs either signs the tag, makes a deal, or sits out and ruins his career. Balls in his court.
That is incorrect. It can be rescinded at any time prior to him signing it.
Apologize I was misinformed. .
So Saquon screwed himself out of the security of a 2 year deal and is playing for basically the tag plus a tip. He also at one point had the same or a bit more guaranteed money on the 2 year deal. At least he realized it before he compounded his mistake by a long term hold out and skipping camp and games.
Hoping he gets in, stops complaining about money, and has a good season.
All of that crying for this, L. Can’t wait to repeat next year.
I’m glad the Giants came to their senses and realized Daniel Jones can’t carry the team on his back to the playoffs. Even with Barkley in the fold they might have to steal a game or two to surpass last seasons record.