Saquon Barkley will reportedly be playing football this season.
After months of speculation, Barkley and the New York Football Giants reached a one-year deal worth up to $11 million what a $2 million signing bonus.
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
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network was the first to report this news Tuesday morning.
The Penn State great has been with the Giants since they took him with the second overall pick in the 2018 draft.
His five seasons in New York have been up and down. They’ve featured highs, such as winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, and lows, such as missing almost all of the 2020 season with a torn ACL suffered in Week 2. Barkley had a great year last season, leading the Giants to their first playoff berth since 2016 and their first playoff win— an upset over the Vikings in Minnesota— since they won their last Super Bowl in the 2011 season.
Barkley ended the season with more than 1,600 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns en route to his second pro bowl appearance.
But nothing that’s happened in the offseason has been fun for Barkley or the Giants. The sides had until July 17 to reach a long-term deal and weren’t able to do it. Since then, speculation had ramped up about Barkley holding out into the 2023 season, something he’s said is possible.
Although this isn’t a long-term deal, it puts the Giants and their fans at ease for now. Saquon Barkley won’t be repeating what former Steeler Le’Veon Bell did ahead of the 2018 season. The former Steeler ended up holding out for the entire year, and never recaptured his status as one of football’s best backs.
