Giants RB Saquon Barkley says he can envision himself in a different uniform

Saquon Barkley has long dreamed of retiring with the New York Giants, but with free agency looming, the two-time Pro Bowler admits he could see himself playing elsewhere next season. 

Barkley learned the realities of being an NFL running back last offseason. Following a failed attempt to land a long-term deal and a brief holdout, he had to sign a one-year, adjusted franchise tag last July worth $10.1 million.

As the 26-year-old heads into an all-too-familiar situation this offseason, Barkley seems more open than ever to exploring other options. While he still won't rule out a return to the Giants, Barkley recently told Complex that he could see himself playing in another team's uniform in 2024. 

"Yeah, I mean, it never crossed my mind until last year after I got tagged," Barkley said. "Up until that moment, I really believed that I was gonna finish my career as a New York Giant ... But once you get to this point, you go to your contract negotiation and you go through the tag process, you realize how much of a business it is."

"So could I see myself in another uniform? Yeah, it's possible," Barkley added.

Despite being scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, New York can still place the franchise tag on Barkley this offseason, an outcome that is out of his control but one he surely wants to avoid. Teams can begin designating players for the franchise tag on Feb. 20, and it must be applied by March 5. 

An ankle injury limited Barkley to 14 games in what was a disastrous season for the Giants, during which he racked up 1,242 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns. His 3.9 yards per carry might suggest he's on the decline, but it's important to note that New York was the third-worst run-blocking team this season, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Even so, if the Giants didn't want to hand him a long-term contract after he led the team to the playoffs during his Pro Bowl-worthy 2022 season, it seems unlikely that they'll do so this offseason. Spotrac's calculated market value projects Barkley to ink a three-year deal worth just under $20 million this offseason, based on past comparable free-agent signings.  

Regardless of whether they re-sign Barkley, the Giants should probably start taking a deeper dive into the 2024 NFL Draft's running back class. Although New York selected former Oklahoma RB Eric Gray in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, he flashed little upside (17 carries for 48 yards this season) and was mostly used on special teams. 

April's class doesn't have the same running back talents as last year's draft offered, such as Atlanta's Bijan Robinson and Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs. However, there are plenty of intriguing options that can be found outside of the first round, including Texas' Jonathon Brooks and Trey Benson of Florida State. 

Nonetheless, Barkley's free agency will be one of the more fascinating situations to watch play out this offseason. Come March 5, we should get a clearer picture of how likely a Giants reunion really is.