Giants won’t use franchise tag on Saquon Barkley, sources say

The New York Giants are not granting the franchise tag to running back Saquon Barkley, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

This paves the way for Barkley to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.

A second straight tag for Barkley would cost $12.1 million, but it also wouldn't have been openly accepted. Barkley has insisted over the past 18 months that he doesn't want to be tagged.

Barkley, 27, played last season on a franchise-adjusted franchise that paid him $10.1 million after the two sides failed to reach agreement on a long-term deal.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen said last week at the NFL scouting meeting that a franchise tag for Barkley was not “out of the question” because the 2024 salary cap was higher than expected , at $255.4 million.

The two-time Pro Bowl running back totaled just 962 yards and six touchdowns for the Giants last season, missing three games with a high ankle sprain suffered in a Week 2 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

He had repeatedly expressed his desire to be a “giant for life,” but Barkley turned down an offer last season that would have guaranteed him about $23 million, a source told ESPN.

After the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft got off to an electric start with a career-high 2,028 total yards to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, Barkley's career was marred by injuries. He has missed at least three games in four of the last five seasons, including most of the 2020 campaign due to a torn ACL.

Barkley totaled 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns in his six seasons with the Giants. He also has 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.