Latest On Contract Talks Between Giants, Daniel Jones

A big domino has already fallen regarding the 2023 QB market, but the Giants remain focused on a lot of attention Daniel Jones. Discussions at the combine did not result in a contract being signed, but a breakthrough could still be possible in the near future.

Less than 24 hours remain until the franchise tag deadline, meaning the Giants are still under pressure to sign Jones to a multi-year contract (and thereby give themselves the ability to use the franchise tag when running back). Saquon Barkley). Otherwise, Jones will be given the tag to extend the negotiation window for both sides but also ensure he will be in New York for at least the 2023 campaign.

Jones’ decision to change agents and the subsequent increase in contract demands dominated the plot in this situation. However, his asking price (roughly $45 million a year) isn’t believed to be a point the Giants are willing to go to, and the 25-year-old’s performances through 2021 made it for the previous regime of the teams to an easy decision to decline his fifth-year option. That has led the two parties to an impasse, although there was optimism following the weekend’s negotiations.

On that point, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that Jones’ representatives traveled to New Jersey today to continue in-person talks with the Giants. That at least leaves open the possibility that a deal can still be struck at the last hour. However, the scope of a potential deal will likely still be heftier than what the team had hoped for.

In an update on the state of affairs over the weekend, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano report that Jones’ deal could last four years and be worth over $160 million. That would be very similar to that Derek Carr signed with the Saints earlier this morning, although there are a number of differences in the respective situations of the two passers. Jones doesn’t have the pedigree of Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler, but the Duke grad is six years younger and made a significant step forward last year, first with Brian Daboll deployed as head coach.

Fowler notes that many in the league were surprised by the extent to which the Giants remain “comfortable” in giving Jones a key second contract. They still have the franchise tag option (which would cost $32.4 million) as a failsafe, of course, but using it would allow Barkley to achieve free agency as the top RB on the market. Whether today’s talks have resulted in any progress will have a major impact on the Giants’ next moves in the days to come.