Giants insider shares big update on Saquon Barkley

There's yet another sign that New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley could be permitted to reach free agency in March. 

"If you listen closely, if you're paying attention and following and connecting the dots, it sounds like the Giants are greasing the skids to at least letting Saquon Barkley test the open market," Giants insider Jordan Raanan of ESPN said during the latest edition of the "Breaking Big Blue" podcast, as shared by Doric Sam of Bleacher Report. "Yes, they want him back, but no, they don't want to pay him what they think he's worth."

Barkley said in early January he wanted Giants general manager Joe Schoen to "get it over with" if Schoen planned to retain the ball-carrier's rights for a second straight offseason via the franchise tag. Schoen has until the March 5 deadline to use the tag, and he told reporters while at the Senior Bowl last week that he and Barkley's representatives will "circle up" at the scouting combine later this month. 

Barkley recently reiterated his desire to be a "Giant for life." However, there's no sign the veteran of six NFL seasons who turns 27 years old on Feb. 9 would give Schoen and company a discount to make such a dream a reality. Meanwhile, Barkley has been linked in stories with the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, among other clubs. 

Tagging Barkley again would cost the Giants roughly $12.1M for 2024 unless he signed an extension later in the offseason. Barkley inked an adjusted tag last summer that included incentives he failed to reach. 

There was some hope in late January that the three-year, $42M extension Jonathan Taylor received from the Indianapolis Colts this past fall could serve as "the framework for a compromise" regarding Barkley putting pen to paper on a deal with New York. Raanan poured cold water over that idea and indicated that the Giants "already went last year past the point where they probably felt comfortable paying" Barkley.

The Giants ended the 2023 campaign at 6-11 and realistically could part ways with both quarterback Daniel Jones and head coach Brian Daboll as soon as next offseason. Thus, it's understandable Schoen would only want to commit so much salary-cap space to a running back when cheaper options are available at the position.