EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — There was something rare on the New York Giants sideline as their 2023 season came to a close with an unexpected win over the skidding Philadelphia Eagles.
There were smiles, hugs and joy. There also was the realization that the team will be different after a disappointing 6-11 season. The future of several key players is uncertain.
Star running back Saquon Barkley, who ran for two touchdowns in the 27-10 win Sunday, is among a number of free agents who might test the market in two months. New York could put a franchise tag on the 26-year-old, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. But, who knows?
“Definitely it’s a bonus,” Barkley said after the Giants snapped a five-game losing streak against the Eagles and beat them for the third time in 16 games. “You want to go on top and to be able to beat a division rival, a team that’s kind of had our number in recent years. It definitely helps.”
Receiver Sterling Shepard, quarterback Tyrod Taylor and safety Xavier McKinney are all headed to free agency unless the Giants decide to sign them.
The 34-year-old Taylor has stepped up since Daniel Jones went down first with a neck injury and with an ACL tear in his first game back. He threw for 297 yards and a touchdown Sunday and ran for 38 yards. The previous week against the Rams he passed for 319 yards, 10 shy of his career best, in a one-point loss.
“I definitely have all the faith and confidence in myself that I can play as a starter in this league,” Taylor said. “I don’t always control that as well and I think it’s just about staying ready, being ready for the moment and taking advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself and today, as a team, we were able to do so and finish the season ultimately on a good note.”
In the past few weeks, Taylor has shown he would be better than Tommy DeVito, the undrafted free agent who started six games after Taylor was lost for a month with broken ribs.
Shepard, 30, is probably done with the Giants after eight seasons. He went out on a high, catching three passes for 372 in his career in New York, moving past Jeremy Shockey for fifth most in team history.
When he came to the sideline after moving past Shockey, he was hugged by both teammates and coaches.
“Really just trying to take it all in,” said Shepard, who overcame major injuries in the past two years to return and be a leader who didn’t play a lot. “Like I told you guys earlier in the week, I knew that this was probably going to be my last time being in this jersey. I just wanted to take it all in with my brothers and enjoy every moment of it, and that’s exactly what I did.”
McKinney had a breakout season after the Giants didn’t pick up the fifth year of his rookie contract. He played every down on defense, was second on the team to Bobby Okereke in tackles and had two interceptions against Philadelphia on Sunday.
As he was talking, a teammate screamed across the room: “Pay the man!”
“I definitely agree, I definitely agree,” McKinney said. “But you know, let’s see what happens.”
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