Saquon Barkley: 'I'm Numb' to Thought of Giants Possibly Using Franchise Tag Again

Saquon Barkley held out until late July last year amid frustration with receiving the franchise tag, but the New York Giants running back does not appear ready to wage war over the possibility of another tag this offseason.

"They did it last year. So, I'm numb to it," Barkley told reporters Monday. "I don't have any feelings toward that at all. If you're going to do it, just don't wait until March 5. Just get it over with. If not, let me go. Simple."

Barkley rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns while adding another 280 yards and four scores on 41 receptions during the 2023 season. He appeared in 14 games and was arguably the lone bright spot for a Giants offense that struggled the entire season.

Given the state of the running back position, Barkley might not want to take a standoffish approach to the franchise tag. The tag would pay Barkley $12.5 million, which would make him the NFL's highest-paid running back in terms of cash spent during the 2024 season.

While he would certainly love a long-term deal featuring significant guarantees, those deals are almost nonexistent for running backs at this point. No back landed a contract carrying more than $13 million in total guarantees last offseason.

Le'Veon Bell's four-year, $52.5 million contract with the New York Jets in 2019 was the last time a true free-agent running back landed a deal worth the type of money Barkley would seek on the open market. Melvin Gordon's $13.5 million guaranteed at signing in 2020 is the highest number any running back has landed in the last three offseasons.

Heading into his age 27 season with a laundry list of previous injuries, Barkley could find himself becoming this offseason's Dalvin Cook if he winds up in free agency. Cook entered the market last June and wound up getting just a one-year, $7 million deal with the New York Jets. He then wound up serving as a backup behind a younger, cheaper option in Breece Hall before securing his release and signing with the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.

The unfortunate reality of the running back position means two years of the franchise tag may be the pinnacle of earnings for some of the game's most dynamic playmakers.