The NFL offseason is usually full of players looking for contract extensions.
This league is a business and every player has the right to be paid what they deserve.
But one position seemingly never gets paid no matter how great a player is.
That is running back.
Many teams feel that running backs are replaceable and it is a position with a short shelf life.
Usually, by a player’s fifth or sixth season, you start to see them get worse.
That could be one of the main reasons why the New York Giants do not want to pay Saquon Barkley.
But the Giants had no problem spending big money on offensive tackle Andrew Thomas this week, with the lineman signing an extension worth roughly $117 million.
Ryan Clark thinks the Giants sent a message to Barkley after handing out this big deal.
Giants’ contract message to Saquon:
“We got the money for long term deals. We just ain’t giving it to you”
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) July 26, 2023
Money was never an issue for New York, it was always about positional value.
And an offensive tackle is far more valuable than a running back.
Every team in the league would pay their star tackle over a star running back.
We see a few new running backs emerge each season.
But, All-Pro offensive tackles like Thomas are hard to find.
Barkley is coming off a year where he had 352 touches and 1,650 yards from scrimmage.
Still, the Giants did not see him as worthy of a long-term extension.
Barkley was able to agree to a one-year extension with New York that will pay him more than the franchise tag.
Yet, he will most likely find himself in the same position next offseason.
NEXT: Insider Reveals 1 Key Detail That Helped Giants Retain Saquon Barkley
