Sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday that the New York Giants have decided against placing the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley. This decision paves the way for Barkley to enter unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.
Opting for a second consecutive franchise tag for Barkley would have incurred a $12.1 million cost, but it wasn’t a route Barkley was keen on. He has been vocal over the past 18 months about his reluctance to be tagged.
Last season, Barkley played under an adjusted franchise tag, earning $10.1 million after prolonged negotiations failed to yield a long-term contract agreement.
At the NFL scouting combine last week, Giants general manager Joe Schoen indicated that a franchise tag for Barkley remained a possibility, citing the higher-than-anticipated 2024 salary cap of $255.4 million.
Despite Barkley’s aspirations to remain a “Giant for life,” his performance last season was marred by a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2, limiting him to 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns in addition to missing three games.
Although Barkley had previously expressed his commitment to the team, he declined an offer last season that would have guaranteed him around $23 million, according to a source familiar with the situation.
While New York opted to not tag Barkley, the Carolina Panthers used the franchise tag on star edge rusher Brian Burns — guaranteeing Burns $24 million this season.
“We love Brian,” new general manager Dan Morgan said at the combine. “Brian’s a Panther, somebody that I know and that I’m close to.”
Carolina’s primary objective remains securing Burns with a long-term contract. Additionally, they aim to retain free agent linebacker Frankie Luvu and ink defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a multi-year agreement.
Brown, the No. 7 pick in 2020, carries an $11.6 million cap hit as he enters the fifth year of his rookie contract.
Following Burns’ impressive performance in the 2022 season, where he notched a career-best 12.5 sacks and earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod, the Panthers made efforts to negotiate a long-term deal with him. His 46 sacks the past five seasons rank 13th in the NFL during that period.
