NEW YORK -- Saquon Barkley still hasn't signed his rookie contract with the Giants, but he knows where the money is going when it starts coming in.
"I want to follow the (Raiders star) Marshawn Lynch method," Barkley, 21, said Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. "I don't want to touch that (salary). I'm going to invest it. Put it in the right people's hands, learn as I continue to make investments and live off of endorsement deals."
Barkley, who was the first prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft to sign with Nike, made his first big purchase this week when he bought his parents a new home in Pennsylvania. He proudly posted a photo of himself in front of the "sold" sign on the lawn to his social media accounts.
"It's something I've wanted to do since I was a little kid," Barkley said. "It's something I promised my mom and dad when I was a little kid, and to be able to fulfill that promise means everything. It kind of puts everything in perspective, all the hard work you put in. And it's another step up the mountain."
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Barkley put scouting real estate in the hands of his parents.
"I left it to my mom," Barkley said. "I said, 'Pick a house that you like and you feel is going to be comfortable for you and dad and the rest of the family.' To be able to buy them a house is probably the best accomplishment I have so far."
As the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley is slotted on the rookie pay scale for a four-year contract worth $31 million guaranteed, which will make him the second-highest paid running back in NFL history.
"I just hope that I can set an example for future athletes that are planning on doing something like that," Barkley said, "that I was able to do that without signing my contract.
"It shows so far I've been making a lot of right decisions and surrounding myself with a great team. I've got to give a lot of credit to those guys."
There is some room for negotiation on either side of the deal, and only about half of the first-round picks have signed thus far. But Barkley won't be taking his foot off the gas over the next four weeks before the Giants report for training camp July 25.
"It's go time," Barkley said. "I'll be able to train out in L.A. with Odell (Beckham), Shep (Sterling Shepard) and those guys. Other players like Ezekiel Elliott.
"I'll be able to pick their brains and learn how to work as a NFL guy. This is my first NFL offseason. Even though I know how to work out, I'll try to prepare to get as ready as I can for the season so we can have a great season and I can have an impact on the team."
Barkley, who has a two-month-old daughter, walked the red carpet before the CC Sabathia & Friends Celebrity Softball game. Both Sabathia and Barkley are represented by Roc Nation Sports.
It was something of a homecoming for Barkley, who was born in the Bronx before his parents moved him to Coplay, Pa. so he would have more opportunities.
"It's almost like a full circle," Barkley said. "My parents went through so much and made so many sacrifices for me and my brothers and sisters. That's not the last thing I'm going to be able to do for my family.
"When I was younger, my dad said, 'God gave you the talent. Watch where you use that talent.' I'm going to focus on using that talent by trying to be the best player I can possibly be, impacting others and giving back to my parents."
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
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