The New York Giants and General Manager Joe Schoen portrayed the Saquon Barkley free agency situation in a specific light. Via HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the Giants suggested they would consider matching any offer Saquon secured on the open market.

Giants and Barkley: A Free Agency Saga

The Philadelphia Eagles eventually signed him to a three-year, $37.7 million deal, including $26 million guaranteed at signing. The former second-overall pick is one of the best running backs in football, but he plays a position that is deteriorating in value, and the Giants couldn’t afford to overpay at the moment.

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Despite Managing Partner John Mara expressing his desire to keep Barkley, especially to prevent him from joining the Eagles, Schoen never offered him a contract extension. However, Barkley recently spoke to The Athletic via their “Scoop City” podcast, where he clarified that his time with the Giants was likely over after a specific viral phone call was shown.

“It was over after that phone call, in my opinion,” Barkley told The Athletic.

Signs of Departure

The Giants franchise tagged Barkley the year before instead of offering him an extension, signaling the beginning of their eventual separation.

“I never in my heart truly believed that they were going to match it, or they only wanted me for a lower price. So no matter what, I probably wasn’t going to go back,” Barkley explained.

Giants’ Transition and Barkley’s Future

The Giants will certainly miss Saquon’s production, having tallied 962 rushing yards this past season with 10 total touchdowns. Head coach Brian Daboll is hoping to transition to a more pass-heavy unit that relies on 6th overall pick Malik Nabers and his astounding receiving qualities.

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Barkley not only secured a lucrative deal with Philadelphia but also a chance to compete for a Super Bowl, which certainly piqued his interest. However, there are always two sides to every story, and Barkley wanted an opportunity to share his perspective.

The Decision to Part Ways

The Giants were never going to offer him a significant contract, which became evident after they tagged him in 2023. Schoen tagged him for a reason, and extending him at 27 years old was always going to be a non-starter, especially with more than $25 million guaranteed.