The New York Giants have been rumored to move on from one of their franchise players this offseason, and now have decided to not sign him to a deal. This player has been in several trade rumors since the deadline back in October but ultimately stayed with the team for the rest of the 2023 season. Now, it has been revealed that New York will not sign this star player to another deal, making him a huge target for the open market.
New York Giants Move On From Star Player
The Giants are moving on from running back Saquon Barkley after a report by ESPN revealed that the team will not be placing another franchise tag on the superstar. Many organizations throughout the league have expressed their interest in obtaining the star running back, including the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers. Following the hiring of head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have opened up as the early favorites to land Barkley.
BREAKING: The #Giants are not planning on tagging superstar running back Saquon Barkley and he will hit the open market as a free agent in March, per ESPN.
Many teams are expected to pursue the 2x Pro Bowl back, including an NFC East team and the #Chargers. pic.twitter.com/015MzXQMLW
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 7, 2024
Even after stating that he would like to remain a “Giant for life,” Barkley understands that the NFL can be a tough business, which has opened him up to potentially exploring his new options. The star running back has gone through multiple contract negotiations with the team dating back to the previous offseason, but the Giants decided to only place a franchise tag on him for the 2023 season. The superstar has been a big advocate for the running backs in the league to be paid more, which could land him a hefty contract for a team willing to spend big on the position.
New York Giants Fans React
Many Giants fans are disappointed that the team could not make a deal with Barkley to stay in New York, and they showed their frustrations on social media reacting to the news. Here are some of the reactions from the Giants’ fanbase:
All time L by the Giants here. Hard to fathom to be honest if you’re a die hard fan. I’d be beside myself
— Alex Monaco (@Alex__Monaco) February 7, 2024
I don’t really get what they are doing, but do you Giants
— The Rational Football League Show (@TheRFLShow) February 7, 2024
It’s completely unbelievable and unbearable that there’s a reality where Daniel Jones is on the roster and Saquon Barkley isn’t. Makes no sense. 1 year to turn this around and everyone back on the hot seat. Let’s blow it up every 3 years. Good job Giants
— Honest Giants Fan (@Iebronyg) February 7, 2024
Where Will Saquon Barkley End Up?
Many fans do not understand why New York is moving on from the franchise running back, and keeping quarterback Daniel Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million deal through 2026. Many would argue that Jones should not even be a starting quarterback in the NFL, which has led to confusion over the team not wanting to pay Barkley.
Where do you think the star running back will end up in free agency in March, and how much do you think teams are willing to spend to land a big-time player like Barkley?
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