Whispers linking Giants' Saquon Barkley with AFC playoff team growing louder

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley may soon find teams aren't willing to offer him the contract he desires despite the league's salary-cap explosion for 2024 due to the market being filled with numerous big-name running backs. 

All it takes is one advertised contender to impress Barkley's camp, though, and whispers that the Houston Texans may be that contender are growing louder ahead of the new league year that opens on March 13. 

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported on Thursday that league sources say "the feeling at the NFL Scouting Combine is that the Texans could be the biggest offseason spenders on a free-agent running back, because their roster construction allows it within the salary cap." 

Specifically, Dunleavy noted that Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud along with wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell "are on cost-controlled rookie contracts." 

Additionally, it was reported in late February that Houston isn't expected to go all-in on trying to sign Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans if he reaches free agency because the Texans are "good with their current receiving corps, at least good enough to pass on a bidding war for Evans." 

Former New York Jets linebacker and current NFL analyst Bart Scott is among knowledgeable individuals who linked Barkley with Houston before Dunleavy offered his update. Meanwhile, one agent told Dunleavy that Barkley and other to-be free-agent running backs probably won't "match or pass" the three-year, $42M extension ($26.5M guaranteed) that Jonathan Taylor received from the Indianapolis Colts this past fall. 

"They are all older and most have more mileage on their bodies," the agent said. 

It is worth mentioning that Barkley may not reach the open market next month. As shared by Reuters, Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters at the combine that using the franchise tag to retain Barkley's rights for a second consecutive year is not "off the table." Tagging Barkley would cost New York $12.1M for 2024 unless the parties agreed to a long-term contract. 

The deadline for teams to use their tags is March 5. 

"The salary cap changes your philosophy on how you're going to attack things," Schoen acknowledged about possibly tagging Barkley. "We don't want to do it. In a perfect world, we don't want to do that again."