The New York Giants placed the franchise tag on star running back Saquon Barkley Tuesday, opening a possibility to extend him in the summer. They made the move before the deadline at 4 p.m. ET on March 7.

This move comes just after the Giants extended the contract of quarterback Daniel Jones, doubling down on building off their current core rather than trading. New York had a solid season in 2022-23 after years of mediocrity, posting a 9-7-1 record with a playoff win over Minnesota.

Sorry, Bears fans.

What does this mean for New York?

The Giants are investing in Jones and Barkley moving forward, it’s clear. And that’s not a bad move after Barkley had perhaps his best season in the NFL last season.

Barkley was back to his old self in 2022, rushing for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns with 338 receiving yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie season as a result. And because he was finally able to reach his potential, New York played well offensively, opening things up for Jones’ skillset.

The question is this: can it be sustained?