Neither of the top two prospective unrestricted free agents was tagged by the Giants. How much do Giants supporters believe that the team will be able to get both players back?
The New York Giants still have a long list of needs for their squad, and the NFL free agency frenzy is scheduled to begin next week. The argument over the best way for the team to close the gaps in their roster has only heated up.
After meeting with the organization in Indianapolis over the weekend at the NFL Combine, running back Saquon Barkley’s agents have not yet been able to come to an agreement on a new, long-term contract. After a dismal 2023 season, they also have to deal with the problem of locking down safety Xavier McKinney, not to mention the other positions that are in doubt.
No matter what avenue the team takes in addressing its needs, it will have to do so without the luxury of heavy cap space. According to Over the Cap, the Giants are projected to have an estimated $32.6 million in total cap space before the free-agent window opens on March 13. That number isn’t much to work with if they hope to have at least one of Barkley or McKinney back for 2024 while addressing certain glaring needs such as offensive line and edge rusher, two premium positions.
Nonetheless, 49 percent of Giants fans who voted in a recent poll by Giants Country publisher Patricia Traina do not believe that the team can afford to bring back Barkley and McKinney and still be aggressive in the open market to add quality upgrades to the roster.
The response doesn’t come as a surprise. The Giants have unanswered questions at several spots along the offensive line, especially at right guard, where Mark Glowinski’s release has left a hole, and right tackle, where Evan Neal’s future hangs in the balance. They also need depth along the defensive line, secondary, and backfield, and they hold just seven picks to potentially target those areas via the draft.
The Barkley situation has drawn a split opinion, with some arguing that the Giants need a running game that Barkley can provide and that with a better offensive line, he’ll be more effective, while others argue that the team needs to move on from the former Penn State star.
General manager Joe Schoen, who during the combine told reporters that he didn’t rule out using the franchise tag on Barkley for a second year running, decided against doing so. This now means Barkley is free to explore the market and, assuming there was a handshake agreement between his side and the Giants, give the only pro team he’s played for in his career a chance to match any offers he receives.
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As for McKinney, who had been rumored to receive the transition tag, that didn’t come to fruition either. The only logical conclusion is that the two sides are a gulf apart in how they perceive McKinney’s value, and the Giants might be banking on potentially getting a comp pick in the 2025 draft if McKinney leaves for another team.
