One-time MVP and current CBS Sports NFL analyst Boomer Esiason spoke during Friday’s edition of the WFAN “Boomer and Gio” program about New York Giants pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux saying during a recent podcast appearance that he felt Giants running back Saquon Barkley “should have got paid first” last offseason instead of quarterback Daniel Jones.
“I understand what he’s saying, and we’ve sat here for years and said that these running backs are underpaid for what they do, even though they don’t make it usually through the season, so he’s kind of saying the same things that we have said,” Esiason explained about the situation, per Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “But (Thibodeaux is) an active player on a roster, a second-year player, and he’s questioning some of the decisions that (Giants general manager) Joe Schoen has made.”
Schoen tried to pay Barkley from the fall of 2022 through early 2023, and the 26-year-old’s camp was widely criticized for rejecting a multi-year deal that reportedly “approached $23M in guaranteed money.”
Barkley’s rights for this season ultimately were retained via the franchise tag after Jones signed a four-year contract last March, and the 2018 first-round draft pick later inked an adjusted tag to report to training camp on time.
Tagging Barkley a second time would reportedly cost the Giants around $12.1M for 2024.
“He’s supporting Saquon and, look, we all like Saquon, but he plays the wrong position,” Esiason added about Barkley featuring at what’s become a devalued position as it pertains to veteran players. “What can I tell you? The running back numbers are just not going to be what they used to be.”
It’s unclear if Schoen will tag Barkley again before the March 5 deadline for such decisions, but logic suggests the executive won’t welcome losing a dynamic offensive playmaker for nothing.
For what it’s worth, last summer’s developments indicate Barkley won’t forfeit any checks by sitting even a single game out to protest the lack of a long-term contract.
