In the world of professional football, free agency is a time of excitement and uncertainty. The New York Giants experienced both emotions as they watched their star running back, Saquon Barkley, leave for their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. According to reports from various sources including HBO's Hard Knocks series and The New York Times Athletic, negotiations between Barkley and the Giants reached a stalemate due to financial differences.
The third episode of Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants documented the team's attempts to build up their roster following a difficult campaign. General manager Joe Schoen had set a financial limit for retaining Barkley, but co-owner John Mara held a different view on keeping the popular player. Barkley's agent, Ed Berry, proposed a three-year deal with an average of $12.5 million and $25 million guaranteed.
Despite the Giants' efforts to match Philadelphia's offer, they were unable to do so. The Eagles signed Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal that included $26 million guaranteed.
The Giants responded by turning their attention towards signing Devin Singletary and upgrading the offensive line with Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr., and Robert Hunt. The team also faced a major hole in the secondary after Xavier McKinney signed a four-year, $67 million deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Barkley's departure left Giants fans disappointed and concerned about their team's future at the running back position. However, Schoen remained focused on building a strong roster for the upcoming season.
