I'd have taken the $23M guaranteed if I was Barkley. That contract would have got Barkely about $11.-11.5M a year so this at least gives him a chance to be whole or close to on his pay for 2023.
Seems like a solid compromise by both sides on the money but my only issue with Barkley is not getting the Giants to agree to remove the use of the tag next year. That's why I'd have just signed the tag to protect myself versus injury and performance since he can't really make much more, unless the Giants let him go to market.
Agree that it’s surprising he didn’t get a no tag guarantee. Perhaps he wants it in case of injury? What I can’t wrap my head around is that he’s being paid low wages specifically because his position has been deemed to have little impact on wins, losses, and overall team success, but his incentives are tied to exactly that. If I’m Barkley’s agent, I’m pointing that out and saying that’s what your paying Dan Jones all that money for. Probably doesn’t matter at the end of the day, Giants have all the leverage, but it’s incredibly hypocritical to treat him that way and tie his incentives to a playoff berth, which is supposedly beyond the scope of impact for his position.