To try and figure that out, or at least take an educated guess, we have to begin by reviewing how we got here.
The Giants and Barkley were in this spot a year ago. The Giants used the $10.1 million tag on Barkley and the two sides negotiated right up until the final hours of the July 17 deadline to reach a multi-year contract before falling short.
Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported at the time that the Giants’ final offer was a three-year deal worth $11 million annually with guaranteed money between $22 and $23 million. Dunleavy’s reporting was that the two sides, with Berry having been added to Barkley’s negotiating team late to work with Kim Miale of Roc Nation, finished $2 million or less apart in both average annual value and guaranteed money.
deal ($19.347 million guaranteed) that Jonathan Taylor received from the Indianapolis Colts last season.
It seems unlikely the Giants, or perhaps anyone, would give Barkley that deal now. Age and workload matter at the running back position. Taylor got that contract from Indianapolis during his age 24 season. Barkley is looking for a deal entering his age 27 season. Barkley has roughly 500 more touches during his career than does Taylor, and he is coming off a season where his production did not match previous seasons and he dealt with yet another leg injury.
