Saquon Barkley was one of three NFL running backs to be franchise tagged this offseason, but his negotiations with the New York Giants have become far more acrimonious than those between Tony Pollard and the Dallas Cowboys or Josh Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders. Barkley and the Giants are now facing a time crunch as they attempt to work out a long-term deal.

Let’s dive into the latest news on Barkley and New York, including whether contract talks have resumed and what options the star running back has as training camp approaches.

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants Resume Negotiations

While talks between the Giants and Barkley have largely been non-existent, the two sides appear to be negotiating again.

“Talks are back on between the Giants and Saquon Barkley,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said this week. “Now, we’ll see if they can get to a point where he could become one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.

“At the very least, Saquon Barkley is expected to be back with the Giants on a one-year, fully guaranteed tag. It’s just a matter of whether he’s going to get the security that he wants. Time will tell on that one.”

The Giants beat the buzzer by signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year deal just prior to March’s franchise tag deadline, allowing New York to instead deploy the tender on Barkley. The 26-year-old is now scheduled to earn $10.1 million for the 2023 campaign, but he has yet to sign his tag or report for any offseason activities, including mandatory minicamp. Barkley can’t be fined since he isn’t technically under contract.

New York is believed to have offered Barkley $13 million annually in March. Subsequent reports have suggested that the offer is back on the table, but Paul Schwartz of the New York Daily News subsequently indicated that those rumors are incorrect.

Speaking at his youth football camp this week, Barkley said reports that he’s turned down extension offers are “misleading.”

“As I have previously stated, I’m not looking to set any contract records,” Barkley said. “I’m not demanding to be the highest-paid player at my position. I understand the market.

“My goal is just to be compensated respectfully based on my contributions to the team on the field and in the locker room. I’ve been in talks with the Giants throughout the offseason. If at some point there’s a deal that is fair to both sides on the table, I’ll be ready to sign.”

When Is the Franchise Tag Extension Deadline?

Barkley and the Giants have until 4 p.m. ET on July 17 to agree to a long-term extension. If the two sides haven’t worked out a new contract by that point, Barkley will be forced to play on the one-year franchise tag.

New York could still end up trading Barkley during the season. However, he would have to officially sign his tag before becoming eligible to be moved.

Does Barkley Have Any Other Options?

Barkley’s options will be limited once the franchise tag deadline has passed. Still, while he’ll be required to play on a one-year deal, the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement doesn’t contain any limitations on the details of that one-year pact.

For instance, Barkley could ask for a no-franchise tag clause to be inserted into his one-year deal. That stipulation would prevent New York from deploying the franchise tender again in 2024 and ensure that Barkley becomes an unrestricted free agent next spring.

Additionally, New York could theoretically offer Barkley a one-year contract worth more than the $10.1 million franchise tag in an attempt to entice him to play. But given that the Giants hold nearly all the leverage in talks, general manager Joe Schoen has no reason to give much leeway.

Could Barkley Sit Out the 2023 Season?

Barkley said earlier this week that holding out for the entire 2023 campaign is “a card (he) could play,” but a season-long absence seems incredibly unlikely. Barkley would be sacrificing more than $10 million, and there’s no guarantee that his prospects would be more fruitful during 2024 free agency.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently called Barkley a “real threat” to miss all of the Giants’ training camp, and there’s a possibility that the former No. 2 overall pick won’t report until the eve of the regular season. Still, New York is seemingly banking on Barkley eventually returning to the team and putting these negotiations behind him.

“When you’re dealing with someone who is extremely mature, like Saquon, you can separate the personal and the professional,” Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown said this week.

“And I think when you have honest and open conversations, and you take the feelings out of it, you’re able to establish common ground. It doesn’t mean you’re going to agree. But that’s what I appreciate about him. He can listen and digest information we’re giving him, and he can tell us his feelings as well.”