All eyes and ears were focused on New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen as he approached the podium at the 2024 NFL Combine. Of course, the focus was on the negotiations with free agent running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants have reportedly decided not to use another franchise tag on the six-year veteran, allowing him to hit the market.
“We were not able to come to an agreement where the deal makes sense,” Schoen told reporters on Tuesday. “We will circle back again. I think we have all grown, Saquon, myself, and the organization through the last 13 or 14 months, and Saquon may be in a different place than he was then in terms of understanding the market and the business side, and I am looking forward to having those conversations with him.”
If the Giants organization cannot come to terms with Barkley, another team may place their name in the hat of potential landing spots for the former second overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft out of Penn State.
The Houston Texans may be in the market to add a big-time running back to help bolster the offense led by offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
I asked New York Giants GM Joe Schoen what factors in to the negotiations with running back Saquon Barkley.#Sarge #TexansWire pic.twitter.com/0KRDWjLxkP
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) February 27, 2024
Barkley finished his 2023 campaign with 962 yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries and added another 280 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His versatility would allow him to be used similarly to the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year running back Christian McCaffery’s skillset by the San Francisco 49ers.
“I won’t say the franchise tag is off the table [for Barkley],” Schoen said when asked about Barkley’s future with the team.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio may have Barkley on his radar if the Giants decide not to franchise tag him at around $12 million this season. Still, he also could bring back free agent running back Devin Singletary, who provided a massive spark for Houston once he was inserted into the starting lineup over second-year player Dameon Pierce.