New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley is among four franchise-tagged players who have just a week to finalise a long-term deal.
Earlier this offseason, six franchises opted to use the franchise tag to retain out of contract stars for the 2023 NFL season and potentially beyond. The franchise tag is a tool designed for teams to keep their best players while in contract negotiations.
The franchise tag is a one-year deal which gives all 32 teams the option of tagging one player per year ahead of free agency, where the player is set to become an unrestricted free agent. And Barkley is joined by Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Evan Engram in facing an uncertain future.
Elsewhere, Lamar Jackson agreed to a five-year deal worth $260million with the Baltimore Ravens after being tagged, making the quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history. Daron Payne and the Washington Commanders followed suit, with Payne signing a four-year, $90m contract - the largest deal for a defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald in NFL history.
But four players have not yet finalised a long-term deal after being tagged by their respective franchise - and they only have one more week to do agree to terms, otherwise they can only play the 2023 campaign on a one-year deal. Barkley is undoubtedly the headline name in this group after starring for the resurgent Giants in 2022.
He is one of the most explosive backs in football who is coming off a bounce-back campaign in which he rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns on a career-high 295 attempts, earning his second Pro Bowl nod - and first since his rookie season. Last month, however, Barkley suggested he could sit out the 2023 season if he cannot agree to terms with Big Blue before the deadline.
The Las Vegas Raiders also placed the franchise tag on running back Jacobs after he led the NFL in rushing yards last season. Jacobs tallied 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022, and he is set to earn a $10.09m salary on the tag. Dallas Cowboys running back Pollard will earn the same amount after the NFC East franchise tagged him. Pollard is recovering from injury after starring in 2022, usurping Ezekiel Elliott as the Cowboys’ lead rusher from the backup spot thanks to his explosiveness.
Engram is the only non-running back waiting to earn a long-term contract as the tight end is locked in negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his first year in Florida, Engram set personal bests in receptions (73) and receiving yards (766) as the Jags reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Engram has 335 receptions for 3,594 yards and 20 touchdowns over his career, which was spent with the New York Giants before moving to Jacksonville. The 28-year-old, like Barkley, Jacobs and Pollard, is looking for a long-term contract but it has to be struck before the July 17 deadline.
