The Carolina Panthers made Christian McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in NFL history with a four-year, $64 million contract extension this offseason. If it were up to Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley would be next in line to receive a massive payday.
Paying running backs big money has been seen as somewhat of a taboo by teams around the league in recent years. According to Steve Serby of the New York Post, Martin feels Barkley is more than deserving of a lucrative, long-term deal:
“When you have a threat like that, he’s just a move or a broken tackle away from a big play every time he touches the ball,” Martin said. “He’s probably one of the most dangerous guys in the NFL with the ball in his hand. You just have to keep guys like that around.
Martin added that if the Giants do not pay Barkley, there are other teams that will.
“If you don’t pay this guy, someone’s going to pay Saquon. Saquon’s different. When it’s time for him to get paid, he’s going to get paid.”
Martin is all too familiar with the responsibility that comes with being the center of the offense in New York. His high praise for Barkley is indicative of the kind of talent the Giants have on their hands.
New York caught plenty of flak for taking Barkley second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft when they had still not secured a successor for quarterback Eli Manning. Fortunately, he quickly dispelled any criticism by emerging as a bonafide workhorse in the backfield and one of the NFL's elite running backs.
There is no question that Barkley has already provided New York with plenty of bang for their buck. However, it remains to be seen if the front office is willing to bite the bullet should they continue to struggle in the 2020 NFL season.
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