{"id":116881,"date":"2021-06-23T11:59:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T15:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=116881"},"modified":"2021-06-23T11:59:46","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T15:59:46","slug":"saquon-barkley-contract-extension-giants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/06\/23\/saquon-barkley-contract-extension-giants\/","title":{"rendered":"Saquon Barkley Contract Extension Should be This Summer’s Top Priority"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Giants have had a good offseason. From signing Kenny Golladay to acquiring a 2022 Chicago Bears<\/a> first-round pick in the NFL Draft, general manager Dave Gettleman <\/span>likely benefited the roster<\/span><\/a> in both the immediate and long-term future. But Gettleman can do even more this summer. Working out a Saquon Barkley<\/a> contract extension before the 2021 season would put the icing on the cake.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Giants picked up Barkley\u2019s fifth-year option in April. As a result, the star running back won\u2019t hit free agency until at least the 2023 offseason. The extra year could allow the front office to hold off serious negotiations with Barkley\u2019s camp. Plus, it’s important to see how Barkley will rebound from the torn ACL he sustained last September. Nevertheless, it\u2019s not too early to lock up a potential franchise cornerstone.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why the New York Giants Should Finish Saquon Barkley Contract Extension This Summer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Elite Production and Disproving the Injury-prone Myth<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s no question that Barkley is a franchise player. In just 31 games, he\u2019s rushed for 2,344 yards and 17 touchdowns on 497 carries. His agility and big-play ability make him one of the league\u2019s most dynamic players. Despite New York’s many offensive holes, Barkley has been the Giants\u2019 most consistent playmaker since the team drafted him second overall in 2018. Simply put, he\u2019s one of the NFL\u2019s brightest young stars who the Giants can\u2019t afford to lose.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only thing that may discourage the Giants from committing to Barkley long-term is his injury history. He missed three games in 2019 due to a high-ankle sprain. Then in 2020, he missed most of the season with a torn ACL. It\u2019s led skeptics to question Barkley\u2019s durability.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that Barkley\u2019s past injuries are coincidental and won\u2019t affect his future play. He hasn\u2019t suffered any setbacks since his knee surgery. And there have been many star running backs who rebounded from knee injuries to return in full force. Take Dalvin Cook, whose skill set is similar to Barkley\u2019s, for example. Not only has Cook blossomed into a star after suffering ACL and hamstring injuries in 2017 and 2018, but his carries have increased each year. So it\u2019s unlikely Barkley\u2019s injuries will hinder his play. And considering non-contact injuries don\u2019t correlate with a player\u2019s workload, Barkley definitely isn\u2019t injury-prone. He’s worth a long-term deal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This is the best Saquon Barkley has looked in his rehab videos so far, I think. #Giants<\/a> <\/p>\n

(Via Saquon\u2019s Instagram.) pic.twitter.com\/Nl3K9vTkkw<\/a><\/p>\n

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) June 22, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n