The New York Giants entered the offseason confident they could re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones to a contract extension and keep running back Saquon Barkley on the franchise tag. New York could now be in jeopardy of losing its best offensive player because of contract demands.
Jones took significant strides in his first season with head coach Brian Daboll. The 25-year-old quarterback earned Pro Bowl consideration after snapping the Giants’ playoff drought, posting one of the highest ESPN QBRs in the NFL and exploding as a dual-threat quarterback.
- Daniel Jones stats 2022: 92.5 QB rating, 15-5 TD-INT, 67.2% completion, 60.8 QBR
The Giants recognized that signing Jones would mean making him one of the highest-paid NFL quarterbacks. However, the front office anticipated it would be a multi-year extension worth less than $40 million per season.
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However, negotiations between the two sides have taken a turn. Jones fired his agent in February, hiring Athletes First to represent him in contract talks with the Giants. The move came after New York expressed a desire to sign him to a long-term extension, wanting to avoid placing the franchise tag on the former top pick.
Now backed by new representation, Jones’ asking price is climbing. After first reportedly asking for at least $40 million per season then a $45 million average annual value, the 6-foot-5 quarterback wants even more now.
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According to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Jones now reportedly wants even more than $45 million per year in his next contract. It’s expected to have significant ramifications for the Giants’ offseason plans.
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NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that New York hoped to sign Jones to a multi-year deal and then use its franchise tag on Saquon Barkley. However, the new asking price reportedly being presented by Jones’ representation will change that plan.
If Jones doesn’t significantly lower his wishes to become one of the highest-paid NFL players ever, he’ll receive the $32.4 million non-exclusive franchise tag. At that point, despite the team’s efforts, Barkley will hit the open market and could in all likelihood sign with another team.
The Giants aren’t in the pick range to land a starting-caliber quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. With limited alternatives and a desire for continuity, that would force them to tag Jones and let Barkley depart.
At that point, the pressure will be on Jones in 2023 to prove he deserves to become just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to make more than $45 million per season. If he falls short, with the offense potentially taking a step back without Barkley, it could cost him tens of millions of dollars.
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