Giants let Barkley test open market for running backs
The New York Giants are not using the franchise tag this year on running back Saquon Barkley ,so at 27 he is free to gauge his value on the open market for the first time in his career.
The franchise tag — a version of which the Giants employed for Barkley last season — would have paid him $12.1 million in 2024.
He could still return to the Giants, but sources view Baltimore, Las Vegas, Chicago, New England, Houston and Philadelphia as primary potential suitors.
It’s also possible Barkley won’t find the value he is seeking on the open market due to an impressive group of free-agent running backs headed by Derrick Henry (Titans), Austin Ekeler (Chargers), Barkley and Josh Jacobs (Raiders).
Barkley played last season rushed for 962 yards on 3.9 yards per carry and scoring 10 total touchdowns in 14 games.
BILLS RELEASING ALL-PRO SAFETY
Poyer on way out: Buffalo is releasing All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer ina bid to get under the salary cap ahead of free agency, media outlets reported Wednesday.
Poyer, who has played seven seasons with the
Bills, carried a cap hit of $7.72 million and a deadcap value of $2 million.
ESPN reported that the Bills also plan to restructure the contract of cornerback Rasul Douglas to save approximately $2.5 million against their cap.
Poyer, 32, recorded 100 tackles and one sack in 16 games (all starts) last season.
Buccaneers: Tampa Bay gave safety Antoine Winfield Jr. the franchise player tag, guaranteeing him a one-year deal worth $17.123 million for 2024. The Bucs and Winfield, 25, can continue to negotiate a long-term contract extension.
Chargers: Los Angeles
released veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, which opened $6.5 million in cap space, leaving the team $19.1 million over the threshold of $255.4 million, according to overthecap.com.
Kendricks, 32, started 14 games last season and finished second among the Chargers with 117 tackles.
The Chargers will have to make more financially motivated moves. Most notably, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa each have a cap hit in excess of $32 million. Among that group, Williams appears to be the most likely to be released. There also has been trade speculation involving Mack and Bosa.
Colts: The domestic violence charges against tight end Drew Ogletree were dismissed Tuesday, with prosecutors in Hendricks County, Ind., electing not to proceed. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Ogletree, 25, was arrested Dec. 29 after an alleged fight with a woman, who told police at the time that Ogletree “body slammed” her to the ground. A statement issued on behalf of Ogletree said he “has always maintained his innocence and he has been fully exonerated.” After his arrest, Ogletree was placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, removing him from the roster as the investigation proceeded. He still could face discipline from the league, despite a lack of charges. He cannot play or practice with the team until he is removed from the list.
Commanders: Veteran tight end Zach Ertz is signing a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, NFL Network reported. The move returns Ertz, 33, to the NFC East and reunites him with his former head coach.
He played his first eightplus seasons with Philadelphia and was traded to Arizona in October 2021, playing there under coach
Kliff Kingsbury, who recently was hired as new coach Dan Quinn’s offensive coordinator in Washington.
Ertz caught 27 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown in seven starts with the Cardinals in
2023.
Lions: Detroit will not tender restricted free agent cornerback Jerry Jacobs, ESPN reported, letting him become an unrestricted free agent. Jacobs, 26, had 131 tackles and four interceptions in 40 games (29 starts) for the Lions. He started 12 of his 15 games last season and set career highs in interceptions (three) and tackles (55). He was placed on injured reserve Jan. 13 with a thigh/knee injury.
Texans: Houston kept kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, 30, from free agency by signing him to a threeyear, $15.9 million contract. He missed only three total field goal tries the past two seasons and had one miss in 12 attempts from 50+ yards during that span.