NFL

New York Giants won't place franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley

By Sports Desk March 05, 2024

The New York Giants will not place the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley, allowing the two-time Pro Bowl running back to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins next week.

Multiple media outlets reported the news on Tuesday, which is the deadline for teams to use their tag.

Barkley has been with the Giants since they selected him second overall in the 2018 NFL draft.

New York tagged Barkley last July, one day before the team opened training camp for the 2023 season.

In 14 games last year, Barkley rushed for 962 yards with six touchdowns, and also caught 41 passes for 280 yards with another four TDs.

His average of 3.89 yards per carry ranked 32nd among 48 qualifying players, and his 38 carries of negative yards were the most in the NFL.

As a rookie, he made an immediate impact, gaining a league-leading 2,028 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Following injury-marred years in 2020 and 2021, Barkley enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2022, finishing seventh in the NFL in scrimmage yards with 1,650 and earning a Pro Bowl selection - his first since 2018.

Although his production dipped last season, his 26 rushes of 10 or more yards in 2023 were tied for eighth in the league among running backs.

In 74 career games, he has 5,211 rushing yards with 35 touchdowns and 2,100 receiving yards with another 12 TDs.

Barkley can still return to the Giants, but will also be one of the most coveted players available on the open market.

 

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