After six solid years, it appears that running back Saquon Barkley’s tenure with the New York Giants is coming to an end.
The Giants will not place the franchise tag on Barkley for the 2024 season and he is set to become a free agent, according to a Tuesday morning report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Barkley, 27, has played for New York since the Giants took him with the second pick of the 2018 draft.
The Penn State product played under the non-exclusive franchise tag in 2023, rushing for 962 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games.
BREAKING: Giants won't use franchise tag on Saquon Barkley; RB headed to free agency, per @RapSheet https://t.co/d3J0cxMISF pic.twitter.com/GibBBEnYKj
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 5, 2024
The decision does not preclude New York from bringing Barkley back on a new contract.
Over his first six seasons, Barkley accumulated 5,211 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns—fourth and sixth in franchise history, respectively. He was named the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and reached the Pro Bowl in 2018, replicating the latter feat in 2022.
While Barkley attempts to navigate a bleak running back market, New York will look to the future with quarterback Daniel Jones’s time in the Big Apple seemingly running short.
