Barkley, Jacobs unable to land extensions as deadline passes
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and New York Giants halfback Saquon Barkley didn't sign long-term deals before Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise-tagged players to ink extensions.
Dallas Cowboys rusher Tony Pollard also didn't fetch an extension, though the team wasn't expected to sign him to a long-term contract.
Barkley tweeted shortly after news broke that an extension wouldn't be reached:
It is what it is
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) July 17, 2023
The Giants and Barkley apparently almost reached an agreement on Monday. But the two sides couldn't bridge a gap of less than $2 million in average annual salary and guarantees over the first two years of the deal, sources told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
New York reportedly wouldn't sway from an offer that included $11 million per year with just over $22 million guaranteed - despite it being within $1 million to $2 million on both ends of Barkley's reduced asking price. Dunleavy added that the two-time Pro Bowler previously turned down a contract offer worth $13 million annually with $19.5 million guaranteed.
Jacobs, Barkley, and Pollard can now only play on a one-year deal in 2023. Pollard signed the $10.1-million franchise tag, but Jacobs and Barkley have yet to ink the tender, leaving their futures uncertain.
Neither Jacobs nor Barkley is expected to report to training camp later this month, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It was previously reported that Barkley's availability for Week 1 could be in jeopardy if he didn't sign a long-term extension.
Barkley rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards this season while also adding 10 touchdowns. Jacobs led the league in rushing yards with 1,653.
Several high-profile running backs - including Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey - heavily criticized the state of the NFL's positional market on Monday.
Lamar Jackson, Daron Payne, and Evan Engram were also franchise tagged this offseason, though they all struck extensions.