The latest on Daniel Jones’ Giants contract talks
The Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones are working towards a long-term contract agreement with the franchise tag deadline approaching. If the Giants don’t extend Jones by 4:00 p.m. ET Tuesday, they will tag him and potentially lose running back Saquon Barkley, who is also said to be a free agent.
According to Daily News’ Pat Leonard, Jones and his reps want more than $45 million a year. And some in the NFL expect him to make just as much.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that some in the league believe Jones is making money from a four-year contract worth more than $160 million “although the parameters are still fluid.” A source said a “big number is on the table,” also per Fowler.
A deal of this magnitude would net Jones more than $40 million a year, although it’s unclear if that figure would reach $45 million by the time the deal was signed.
Regardless of what Jones gets on a new contract (if he signs one), any annual salary that starts with a four is staggering. Jones improved a lot last season under head coach Brian Daboll, leading the team to its first playoff win since Super Bowl 46, sure. But he still threw for just 15 touchdowns (ranked 21st in the NFL) and 3,205 yards (15th in the league). Recently cut Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota threw the same number of touchdowns in three fewer games.
An annual salary of $41 million to $42 million would make Jones the seventh-highest-paid quarterback in the league, right behind Bill’s superstar Josh Allen ($43 million a year). At least for now — Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson could sign extensions this offseason. Nonetheless, Jones would earn more than the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, two superior players who earn $40 million annually.
The sweet spot has always been a four-year deal worth about $35 million to $37 million a year, with contract language to back out of the deal after three years. That would allow the Giants to spread out the cap, keep Jones’ 2023 cap on the low side, and give them the flexibility to tag Barkley at $10.1 million and use the remaining cap space to improve the use cadres.
But amid Jones’ agency move to Athletes First — the company that represents well-paid quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers ($50.3 million a year) and Deshaun Watson ($46 million a year) — and growing belief in the league seems to be over $40 million annual salary, or the franchise tag, is inevitable.
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