Injuries derailed his NFL career’s scorching start, but he’s back with a vengeance and ready to earn a big extension — let’s dive into the details of the Giants’ rookie scale Saquon Barkley contract.
Saquon Barkley is motivated by a desire to become one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. While the rest of the world is busy staring at his massive quads, Barkley is running full speed at this season’s rushing title — and a lucrative contract extension upon his first-ever free agency next spring.
After a legendary collegiate career at Penn State, the New York Giants selected Barkley second in the 2018 draft. Walking into the league with high expectations, his position in the draft signified generational talent and entitled him to a four-year, $31,194,751 rookie contract, plus a fifth-year team option worth another $7.2 million in 2022. To put that into perspective, reports at the time suggested that the Cleveland Browns were “strongly considering” drafting Saquon with their first overall pick; the last running back to go No. 1 was Ki-Jana Carter all the way back in 1995.
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The PSU standout hit the ground running at the Meadowlands, rushing for back-to-back thousand-yard seasons in his first two years as a pro. However, injuries plagued the runner in the 2019 and 2020 NFL seasons, and as he was forcibly sidelined, it was worth wondering whether the super-talented back would be able to return with the same speed, strength, and route-running ability.
The answer to that question was yes, but that doesn’t mean he scampered straight to the open market and cashed in. Rather, the Giants smacked him with the franchise tag only for the player to refuse to accept it.
To avoid a standoff that ran the risk of stretching into the 2023 regular season, he came to terms on a separate one-year deal — with that in mind, let’s dig into the details of the Giants’ Saquon Barkley contract.
Saquon Barkley Contract Details & Salary
Salary data via Spotrac.
Current extension (2023)
Years: 1
Total value: $11,000,000
Guaranteed at signing: $10,100,000
Free agency: 2024
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, this deal includes three incentives worth $303,000 each for a total of $909,000:
- 1,350 rushing yards AND a Giants playoff berth
- 11 touchdowns scored
- 65 receptions
Rookie contract terms (2018-22)
Years: 5 (including team option)
Total value: $38,601,750
Guaranteed at signing: $31,194,751
In 2022, Barkley’s $7.217 million salary actually made him the No. 8 highest-paid running back by total cash compensation despite his deal being at rookie scale — he surely commands a healthy big bag in free agency despite the market for running backs being so seriously undervalued, but his standoff with the Giants over the use of the franchise tag will continue to loom large throughout 2023 and perhaps into 2024, as his latest deal does not contain any language preventing the G-Men from tagging him once again and denying his entry into free agency anew.
Saquon Barkley’s Career Earnings
CAREER BASE SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2023 SEASON: $21,294,943
CAREER SIGNING BONUSES: $22,767,092
OTHER ESTIMATED BONUSES & INCENTIVES: $7,548,715
EST. TOTAL NFL SALARY EARNINGS THRU 2023: $49,601,750
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