Insiders address if Saquon Barkley dispute could become distraction for Giants

Multiple in-the-know individuals suggested the 2023 New York Giants will be just fine despite the contract-related drama involving star running back Saquon Barkley this summer. 

"We just ignored it, got the team ready and added the holdout player when he returned," a former NFL executive told Giants beat writer Bob Brookover of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com about similar contract disputes. "The media and public spent way more time talking and stressing about it than we did. There is no evidence around the league over many years of a holdout messing up a team. Some teams do great with a holdout and some don’t, so there is no evidence that it really mattered."

The executive offered those comments before Monday's deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players passed without the Giants and Barkley coming to terms on an agreement. Barkley will earn $10.091M for 2023 assuming he eventually signs the tag but is expected to remain away from the Giants when players report for training camp next week. 

Insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted Monday afternoon that Barkley will play on the tag for the upcoming season, "but the question is when." Patricia Traina of FanNation's Giants Country previously noted the 26-year-old would forfeit around $594,117 in guaranteed money for every regular-season game he sits out beginning in September. 

It was reported Monday that the Giants were willing to give Barkley "a smidge above" and "slightly north of" $22M guaranteed. To compare, he'd earn roughly $22.2M guaranteed if he plays on franchise tags across the next two seasons. 

"A lot of teams are dealing with stuff," a former NFL coach told Brookover about potential controversies hovering over clubs during training camp. "Every team probably has a player or two with an axe to grind. It’s just part of it. You just keep working with the guys that are there and try to remain confident that things will get done. Every case is different. Saquon is obviously super smart, he knows the offense and he has obviously been working on his own. I’m sure he’s in great shape."

Barkley already spent a season playing under head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and the 2018 first-round draft pick probably wouldn't feature during the preseason even if he signs his tag before the Giants face the Detroit Lions in their first exhibition contest on Aug. 11. 

Unless Barkley provides legitimate reasons to believe he'll stay away from the team through Week 1, his contract situation likely will be viewed as little more than an offseason hiccup by the time games start to matter.