Giants not in rush for Saquon Barkley extension

The Giants just spent a lot of money to bring in new players, but it does not sound like they will be spending on one of their own anytime soon.

Giants co-owner John Mara said the team is not looking at extending the contract of running back Saquon Barkley at the moment. Barkley is recovering from knee surgery after tearing his right ACL early last season. He is eligible for a contract extension after playing three years, but the injury complicates that issue. 

“I certainly think we’re not in any hurry to do that,” Mara said on a Zoom call with reporters. “We fully expect him to be as good as new. If anybody can spend a hundred percent of his efforts to rehab it’ll be Saquon just knowing what type of motivation he has and desire he has. But we’re not in any hurry to do that at this point in time, particularly after the money we just spent.”

Barkley is expected to return by the start of the 2021 season. He will be in the final year of his four-year, $31.1 million rookie deal. Mara made it clear just because the Giants are not interested in making a deal right now does not mean they don’t hope to lock him up in the future. 

“I said it at the end of the season and I’ll say it again: We hope he’s going to be a Giant for life and at the appropriate time we’ll start those discussions,” Mara said.

The Giants selected Barkley No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He rushed or 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Last year, he was limited to two games before tearing the ACL in his right knee and ending his season.