New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley expanded his representation in June

The contract standoff between the New York Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley could be coming to a conclusion as the July 17 deadline looms.

That being said, Barkley has expanded his representation group in an effort to help seal the deal.

From Pro Football Talk:

Per NFLPA records, Barkley is currently represented by Kim Miale of Roc Nation and Ed Perry of CAA. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Perry was added to the negotiating team in the middle of June.

The change suggests that Barkley was not fully satisfied with the service he was getting. However, he was not so dissatisfied that he fired Roc Nation.

And to be clear, Berry has done Barkley’s marketing for years. So it’s not like he wasn’t aware what was happening throughout the entire process. Just now an active role in negotiations.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 13, 2023

If Barkley and the Giants can’t come to an agreement on a new contract by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Barkley’s options are limited. He will be only eligible to sign a one-year contract with Big Blue for the 2023 season — a deal that cannot be extended until after the Giants’ last regular season game.

For the Giants, it makes business sense for Barkley to play under the franchise tag tender price of $10.1 million this year but he is pushing back on that plan.

It appears the two sides aren’t far off on but neither side has conceded as of yet. If Barkley plays under the franchise both this year and next, he’ll garner $23.2 million — all guaranteed.

But the two-time Pro Bowler is reportedly seeking around $26 million over the next two seasons — a report he has refuted publicly. Still, it looks as if there’s room for compromise here but knowing how these things play out, that could come right down to the wire.

If no deal is struck by Monday, Barkley is expected to hold out of training camp. He will not be fined if chooses to do so.