The New York Giants determined to cross on re-signing star working again Saquon Barkley this offseason, permitting him to defect to the rival Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million deal.
The Giants landed on Devin Singletary in free company as a substitute, signing him to a cope with lower than half of that (three years, $16.5 million).
However earlier than they got here to phrases with Singletary and hedged on Barkley, normal supervisor Joe Schoen had his sights on one other free agent — Las Vegas Raiders working again Josh Jacobs, who led the NFL in speeding yards (1,653) in 2022.
Jacobs signed with the Inexperienced Bay Packers for 4 years at $48 million on March 11, the primary day of free company.
Throughout a current interview with The Athletic, Jacobs revealed that the Giants had really supplied Jacobs greater than Inexperienced Bay and greater than Barkley.
The Giants got here on robust with a proposal between $3 million and $4 million greater than he ultimately accepted. However Jacobs was turned off by the New York taxes, way of life, media and the synthetic turf at MetLife Stadium.
When the Packers supplied $48 million over 4 years, he was intrigued, however he nonetheless pictured himself as a Raider for all times. In his thoughts, his first staff wasn’t his employer as a lot as his house. So he gave the Raiders a chance to match. After they mentioned no, he advised them he would settle for lower than the Packers supplied in the event that they included incentives. The Raiders turned him down.
It doesn’t take lengthy for gamers to note sure components in regards to the New York Metropolitan space. Some gamers would like to play right here, however many at the moment are seeing what Jacobs sees.
The media is continuous, and for those who’re a small-town man who likes to maintain issues easy, New York is a tough place to put low. The taxes are a turnoff and the MetLife Stadium turf has ruined many a profession.
The actual takeaway from this piece is that the Giants have been in on Jacobs and for giant cash. Till at the moment, we have been unaware of that.
So, they have been prepared to allocate an enormous chunk of cap area to a working again, simply not Saquon Barkley. That adjustments the angle on lots of the conversations Schoen had about working backs on HBO’s Onerous Knocks.
What would have occurred if Jacobs accepted the Giants’ provide? We’ll by no means know now, however this information exhibits how effectively Joe Schoen can cover his playing cards.
