The New York Giants signed Saquon Barkley to a one-year deal on Tuesday morning, thus ending his very brief and unsuccessful holdout.
Barkley, as of just a week ago, sounded willing to hold out into training camp and beyond rather than play on the franchise tag. While he technically received a new deal, it’s not much of an upgrade over the money he would have made on the tag itself.
The New York Giants will pay Barkley $10.1 million next year — the same number he would have made on the tag. Barkley will receive $2 million of that on a signing bonus, and can earn nearly $1 million in incentives should he hit some statistical benchmarks. Perhaps most telling is the fact that Barkley did not negotiate a no-tag clause for next season, meaning he could find himself in the exact same situation come the 2023-24 offseason.
Per past reports, Barkley was offered a multiyear deal at some point this offseason, to the tune of annual values up to $14 million. The amount of guaranteed money on those offers wasn’t revealed, which is likely why they weren’t signed in the first place.
Still, by holding out, Barkley didn’t earn the extra security he was looking for.
NFL Twitter reacts to Saquon Barkley’s deal with the Giants
Barkley had the motivation and support of players around the NFL to sit out further and seek, at the very least, a multiyear deal that guaranteed him some level of security. Instead, he took the quick payday to return to his teammates.
Saquon Barkley did not have to do this today. He could have waited and made the #Giants feel what it's like without him.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 25, 2023
Perhaps that could’ve helped him secure a no-tag clause, which would’ve been big.
Reality is, the adjustments to the contract are nothing crazy. It seems… https://t.co/h38WPeP3s6
Saquon Barkley: The Art Of The Deal pic.twitter.com/LzWBWgtU33
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) July 25, 2023
While Barkley did meet with other NFL running backs hoping to increase the standard payday for players at their position across the league, the pressure of missing training camp evidently got to him. Just prior to Day 1 of Giants camp, Barkley is in the building thanks to a masterclass by Joe Schoen.
Joe Schoen is a BEAST general manager if you haven't realized yet.
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) July 25, 2023
The Saquon saga unfolded VERY favorably for the Giants, and they still kept the player without the risk.
“The best we can do is no long term deal and an 8% raise”
— Justin (@Justin_14P) July 25, 2023
Saquon Barkley: pic.twitter.com/1KPnfZUZl1
Saquon Barkley hearing the other RBs talking bout "we sitting out" with the current CBA guidelines pic.twitter.com/SWx5ivdNHL
— Tony Rueda (@ARueda21) July 25, 2023
In the end, Barkley swallowed his pride. If he’s able to hit all of the incentives in his contract, Saquon can make upwards of $1 million above the franchise tag. However, it’s far from the long-term deal he initially sought.