Giants, Saquon Barkley throw the NFL a curveball

If you had the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley agreeing to a deal before veterans report to training camp on your Bingo card, then congratulations on your big win. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the two parties agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million on Tuesday. The agreement means Barkley won't […]

Evan Winter — NFL Managing Editor

Jul 25, 2023 7:27 AM EDT

Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) looks on during warmups before a wild card game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.

If you had the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley agreeing to a deal before veterans report to training camp on your Bingo card, then congratulations on your big win.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the two parties agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million on Tuesday. The agreement means Barkley won't miss a beat in camp, which is obviously huge for a Giants team looking to build off a successful 2022 season.

Surprise! ? ? ?

The #Giants and star RB Saquon Barkley agreed to terms on a new 1-year deal worth up to $11M, sources say, as Barkley gives himself a chance to beat the franchise tag. He gets a $2M signing bonus.

Bottom line: Barkley is coming in & will be at training camp. pic.twitter.com/A5PR7RWLfQ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2023

The deal also ends months and weeks of unsuccessful negotiations between the Giants and Barkley. The two-time Pro Bowler's situation, along with 2022 rushing champ Josh Jacbos and the Las Vegas Raiders, has spurred plenty of conversation centered around the devaluation of running backs in today's game. It's certainly a new era in which even the elite of the elite have to scratch and claw for every dollar.

It'll be interesting to see the final details of the deal. Tagged running backs, like Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard, are set to make $10.09 million in 2023. Rapoport's "worth up to $11 million" is key and it'll be interesting to see how the incentives effect the overall composition of Barkley's deal.

Regardless, the one thing that matters most is the fact the Giants will have their best offensive player on the field once camp starts on Tuesday. That in itself is something to be excited about and should only bode well moving forward.