NFL analysts slam Giants for letting Saquon Barkley run after working as “85% of the offense” but “2%” of the salary cap
Saquon Barkley's exit from the New York Giants has grown into one of the biggest stories of July with "Hard Knocks" covering the event in detail. Speaking on Thursday's edition of "Get Up," NFL analysts Bart Scott and Mike Tannenbaum took turns condemning the team's choice to move on from the 27-year-old running back.
"[00:08:02] He's a homegrown guy. Two years ago [he was] 85% of their offense. And the fact that they didn't give him the grace -- it shows you how one-sided this relationship was." Scott said.
"[00:10:08] If you wanted to keep him, you had a whole year to do it. It's all about context at $12 million a year as head ball [carrier], that's 2% of your salary cap. I'm just hard-pressed to think that the Giants don't think that Saquon Barkley, at 27 years old, isn't worth 2% of their resources." Tannenbaum later said.
The former New York Giants back didn't have a spotless resume with the team. In multiple years, Barkley's season was cut short due to injuries. However, since joining the league in 2018, the running back has produced four seasons of at least 950 yards.
With Barkley now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, it places a huge amount of pressure on Daniel Jones.
Giants turn to Daniel Jones to dominate defenses without Saquon Barkley in 2024
Saquon Barkley's exit and Malik Nabers' addition point the finger at Daniel Jones to do the heavy lifting in 2024. With a backfield seemingly likely to take a step back this year, the pressure is on the quarterback to deliver through the air.
Many analysts and fans believe that to have a productive throwing offense in the 2020s, one's quarterback must throw for at least 30 touchdowns. If Jones were to pull off the feat, it would be the first time in his career dating back to 2019 — his rookie season.
His best throwing season was that year, throwing for 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The heightened expectations come in the final year of his new deal before reaching an early exit opportunity for the franchise. According to Spotrac, the team will be financially incentivized to move on from Jones as soon as 2025.
As such, the team appears to be sending a potential message challenging Jones to win with his arm or potentially face his exit.