RB Saquon Barkley signs franchise tag

Barkley is entering his sixth season as the Giants’ most accomplished and important player.

Last year, Barkley was vital to the Giants’ comeback that included nine regular season wins, the team’s first playoff berth since 2016 and first postseason victory in 11 years.

He started each of the first 16 regular season games before being one of several inactive regulars at the end of the season in Philadelphia, the first time since his rookie season of 2018 that Barkley did not miss a game due to injury. Barkley was named to his second Pro Bowl and was one of three players nominated for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Barkley finished with a career-high total of 295 for 1,312 yards—the fourth-highest total in the NFL—and rushed for 10 touchdowns, one fewer than a rookie’s career total. He had 133 more attempts, 719 more yards and eight more rushing touchdowns than he produced in 13 games in 2021. Barkley ran for one touchdown in 10 of 16 games, plus two in the postseason. He also tied Richie James for the team lead with 57 receptions for 338 yards and was seventh in the NFL with 1,650 rushing yards, nearly double his 2021 total of 856.

Barkley joined New England’s Ramondry Stevenson and Chargers’ Austin Eckler as the only players to lead their teams in rushing and receiving.

He was voted team captain for the fourth year in a row.

In five seasons, Barkley started all 60 of the regular season and two post-season games in which he played. His regular season totals include 4,249 rushing yards on 954 carries (4.5 yard avg.) and 29 touchdowns, as well as 247 receptions for 1,820 yards (7.4 yd avg.) and eight scores. He has 6,069 scrimmage yards.

In the 2022 playoffs, Barkley rushed for 114 yards on 18 attempts (6.3-yard avg.) and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 77 yards for 191 yards from scrimmage.

Barkley’s 6,069 scrimmaging yards is the most total for a player in his first five seasons starting a career with the Giants. The previous record was held by Rodney Hampton with 5,892 yards.

Barkley finished the 2022 season sixth on the franchise career rushing list, 389 yards behind Alex Webster. His 4,249 rushing yards is the second highest total in a player’s first five seasons in Giants history, behind Hampton (4,807).

*The Giants signed free agent outside linebacker Tashawn Bower.

Bauer, 28, is a 6-5, 250 pounder and has played in 26 regular season games with three starts for Minnesota, New England and Las Vegas. He has 23 tackles (16 solo), 2.0 sacks and four tackles for loss. In 2022, Bauer played in six games for the Raiders.

Bauer is a native of New Jersey and played four seasons at LSU.

* Linebacker Elerson Smith (heel) is waived/injured. In the fourth round of draftees in 2021, Smith has played in just 13 games in two seasons, including five last year, due to injuries. His totals included five tackles (one solo), two quarterback hits, six special teams hits, and one forced fumble on special teams.

* Defensive linebacker Trenton Thompson has been waived.

Signed as a rookie free agent last year, Thompson played in one game, Dallas Thanksgiving.