Saquon Barkley has another year on the contract. In 2022, the Giants can secure it with the fifth year option and, if necessary, apply the franchise brand for the 2023 season. Translation: Barkley cannot reach the free agency anytime soon, if the Giants want to keep it financially confidential.
Leaving a season in which he played just two games before needing surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Barkley has no advantage when it comes to closing a new contract. He must prove that he can return to full health and then, once again, perform according to the standards of an elite running back.
That is why when Giants co-owner John Mara said on Wednesday: “I certainly hope he will be a giant for a long time,” it was a comment worth considering.
It is doubtful that the Giants will be able to extend Barkley’s business until he restores his market value with production in the field. His absence cost the attack his only dynamic player.
“It was brutal to see him fall in week 2, ” said Mara. “He is a very important part of this team, not only for what he does on the pitch, but for the leadership and all the intangibles he brings to us outside the field. That was really a punch in the stomach. Listen, I’m still happy to have you. I think knowing him, he will come back stronger than ever and be a big part of that team next year. In terms of what the timeline is, it is difficult to predict that now. I know that our medical personnel are very pleased with the progress he has made. ”