The New York Giants and running back Saquon Barkley have returned to the negotiating table.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday on NFL Total Access that contract talks are back on between the running back and the Giants.
The parties have until July 17 to agree on a long-term deal. If both sides cannot come to a pact, Barkley will have to decide if he's willing to play the 2023 season under the $10.1 million franchise tag.
It's a positive turn of events for Big Blue after Barkley spoke at his youth camp earlier this month about the “untruthful” and “misleading” reports of ongoing contract negotiations.
"First of all, the Giants and Saquon Barkley, he said recently at his (youth) camp, he said he's not going to make a definitive declaration of what he is going to do in the 2023 season until we get into that deadline and to be sure there is still room here for a deal," Rapoport explained. "Talks are back on between the Giants and Saquon Barkley. Now, we'll see if they can get to a point where he could become one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
"At the very least, Saquon Barkley is expected to be back with the Giants on a one-year fully guaranteed tag. It's just a matter of whether he's going to get the security that he wants. Time will tell on that one."
With Barkley and Big Blue discussing a long-term contract, the NFL world will wait and see what kind of deal both sides could agree on. If Barkley would like to become the highest-paid at his position, the Giants RB would need to average $16.1 million per year to pass San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, according to Over The Cap.
Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, made the Pro Bowl in 2022 after two injury-plagued seasons. The two-time Pro Bowler rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns on a career-high 295 attempts for Big Blue.
