It turns out those inside the New York Giants organization felt just like fans did about losing Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
The latest installment of “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” featured behind-the-scenes footage of Giants general manager Joe Schoen talking with Barkley’s reps and Giants co-owner John Mara.
At one point in the footage, Mara tells Schoen that Barkley is their “most popular player we have, by far,” though he didn’t appear to push the general manager past a preferred contract number.
The Eagles capitalized, offering a three-year contract worth $37.75 million with $26 million guaranteed, a smidgen higher than what the Giants wanted to offer. While a high price, Philadelphia was seemingly happy to pay extra NFC East tax to harm a rival before even stepping onto the field in 2024.
Schoen’s comment to Barkley’s agent, Ed Berry, while backing out, said it all: “We’re out. … Is it in the division? I’m trying to prepare myself mentally for what’s going to happen, that’s all.”
In the fallout, the Giants focused on building the trenches and signed Devin Singletary to fill some of the void left by Barkley’s departure.
And the Eagles, with some crafty bartering, swiped a fierce rival’s face of the franchise with Barkley, who happens to be just 27 years old and one of the league’s top 10 backs.
