The Giants upped their contract offer to Saquon Barkley. Sort of.
After Barkley previously turned down a multi-year extension worth $13 million per year with only $19.5 million guaranteed, as first reported last week by The Post, the Giants increased the guaranteed portion to slightly north of $22 million, according to Giants Insider and NorthJersey.com.
But, in exchange for upping the guarantees, the Giants lowered the average annual value on their latest offer, sources told The Post.
The $22 million is a relevant number because it is in the ballpark of what Barkley would be guaranteed ($22.2 million) if he plays on the franchise tag in 2023 and 2024.
Saquon Barkley’s contract talks with the Giants are going down to the wire. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTIt is an encouraging sign that the sides are at least talking and exchanging offers Monday because weeks of silence preceded Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline for working out an extension.
After that passes, Barkley must play on the franchise tag (one year, $10.1 million contract) or sit on the sidelines, whether just for training camp or into the regular season when he would begin missing weekly paychecks.
Guaranteed money is especially important to a running back because of the short shelf life associated with the wear-and-tear accumulated at the position.
Christian McCaffrey (49ers), Alvin Kamara (Saints) and Derrick Henry (Titans) all have more than $22 million guaranteed on their contracts, and free agents Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott topped that number on past deals with the Vikings and Cowboys, respectively.
Barkley, 26, is coming off a career-high 1,312 rushing yards in the regular season and a career-high 377 offensive touches including the playoffs.
He made $38.6 million over the first five years of his career with the Giants and has been candid about wanting to play his entire career in New York and earn a spot in the franchise’s Ring of Honor.
Barkley added agent Ed Berry of CAA as co-representation with agent Kim Miale of Roc Nation last month.
