Giants Rumors: Saquon Barkley to Get Franchise Tag If Daniel Jones Signs New Contract

The New York Giants declined Daniel Jones' fifth-year option for the 2023 season a year ago, but the sides are reportedly working toward a new deal this offseason, and that could have major implications for running back Saquon Barkley.

"If they get a deal done, Barkley will get [franchise] tagged," the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

If the Giants either can't reserve the tag for Barkley or don't agree to a long-term contract with him, he'll be one of the top players on the market and certainly the head of the class at running back.

Barkley, 26, had a much-needed bounce-back season in 2022, rushing for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 57 catches for 338 yards in 16 games. He was the center of New York's offense and a huge reason the team was able to end a five-year playoff drought.

Injuries severely limited Barkley in previous seasons, as he only played two games in 2020 and his return in 2021 (856 yards from scrimmage and four scores in 13 games) was a major disappointment.

He had hit the ground running, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. That, combined with his ability to make an impact out of the passing game, had him poised to be one of the game's most dangerous playmakers.

While that progression was detoured, Barkley returned to elite status in 2022, just in time for free agency.

If he does hit the market when the league year begins March 15, he'll be the top option in a robust group, which is also expected to include Josh Jacobs (three seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards, including 1,653 rushing yards and 12 scores this past season), Tony Pollard (hit 1,000 rushing yards this year and is arguably better than the man he's backed up, Ezekiel Elliott), Miles Sanders (career-high 1,347 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in 2022), David Montgomery (has never dipped below 800 rushing yards in his four seasons) and Kareem Hunt (multifaceted playmaker who was on the short side of a timeshare with Nick Chubb).

It's a good offseason to need an upgrade in the backfield, in other words. Expect the Giants to make a strong push to keep Barkley once they resolve Jones' contract status, however.