Former offensive rookie of the year Saquon Barkley is set to become an unrestricted free agent after reports emerged that the New York Giants will not use the franchise tag on the running back.
The deadline for using the franchise tag expires at 4pm ET on Tuesday and after tagging Barkley last year, the Giants are set to pass on using the tag on the 27-year-old this time out, as per the NFL Network.
Barkley signed an adjusted one-year contract with New York last summer and rushed for 962 yards with six touchdowns in his 14 games this season, while also catching 42 passes for 280 yards and adding a further four touchdowns.
This means that Barkley will join a crowded running back free agent market that includes the likes of Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Autin Ekeler.
Barkley was the number two overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft and earned offensive rookie of the year honours after putting up 2,028 yards from scrimmage and finding the end zone 15 times. He followed that up with another 1,000-yard rushing season but tore his ACL in the second game of his third campaign in 2020.
He was voted to a second Pro Bowl in 2022 as he rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards as the Giants qualified for the playoffs.
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