The Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones did not engage in extension discussions prior to GM Joe Schoen‘s self-imposed Week 10 deadline to talk contract, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. So, as expected, the contract situations of Jones and running back Saquon Barkley — both of whom are eligible for unrestricted free agency in March — will be atop Schoen’s agenda this offseason.
Interestingly, Schoen did engage in extension negotiations with Barkley and defensive back Julian Love during New York’s Week 9 bye, and while those conversations did not lead to a new deal for either player, it is notable that Giants brass did not at least check in with Jones’ camp. That is especially true in light of September reports that Schoen and first-year head coach Brian Daboll harbored “major concerns” about Jones’ viability as a long-term option.
Since those earlier reports, New York has gone 6-4, and Jones has performed much better under Daboll than he did during his first three years in the league. Still, as Raanan acknowledges, there is a difference between being a legitimate NFL starter and being a franchise cornerstone, and it is unclear if Jones’ improved play in 2022 has been enough to convince the team that he is worthy of a lengthy accord.
Indeed, Jones has not played especially well over the last two games, both of which resulted in losses that have threatened to sour a pleasantly-surprising season. On the other hand, his 58.5 QBR — supported by a 10:4 TD:INT ratio and 64.6% completion percentage — is the 10th-best mark in the NFL. He has already set career-highs with 451 rushing yards and four rushing scores, and he has compiled those numbers on a strong 5.7 YPC rate. He has also led four fourth-quarter comebacks this season, and the team’s dearth of receiving talent has made his work more impressive.
One NFC general manager tells Raanan that the Giants’ best option would be to re-sign Jones this offseason, but a different NFC exec says he does not see Jones as a franchise player. Yet another NFC exec sees Jones as a bridge option and believes a one-year, $15MM-$20MM deal would make the most sense for the Giants. However, former GM Mike Tannenbaum thinks Jones is an “ascending player” who can reasonably expect a multi-year deal worth ~$25MM/year, especially given the supply-and-demand dynamics of the QB market that benefit even flawed signal-callers.
Whether Schoen is willing to pay Jones that type of money remains to be seen, and his decision may be impacted (to some degree) by Barkley’s situation. Former NFL agent Joel Corry projects the franchise tag for RBs to come in at roughly $10.1MM, which is a better number than the ~$12MM projections that have been floated and which is much more appealing than the projected ~$31.5MM franchise tag figure for QBs (via Dan Duggan of The Athletic on Twitter).
That said, the Giants are reportedly willing to pony up a top-of-the-market contract for Barkley, and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post says talks between player and team were encouraging. Perhaps a multi-year contract for Barkley — which will allow the team to smooth out his 2023 cap hit — coupled with a tag for Jones will be the most satisfactory result for all parties involved.
“Jones has performed much better under Daboll than he did during his first three years in the league.”
I disagree. As someone who watches every game, he doesn’t look any better now than he did as a rookie. He still stares down his receivers, holds the ball too long, and is inaccurate at crucial times. His numbers bear out that he has not performed much better. Same rating, QBR, yards per attempt, yards per completion, fewer yards per game, etc.
The differences are that he has a better OL than he’s had in the past, Barkley is back and playing better (which takes off the pressure and opens things up), he has better coaching putting him in better situations (and more designed runs), and he hasn’t had a bunch of bobbled/dropped passes intercepted this year like in year’s past (I swear Evan Engram alone has cost Jones like 6 interceptions).
Giants are wise to not extend him. If another team wants to sign him in the offseason, let him go. Otherwise, they should look to maybe re-sign him at a one year deal at a reasonable rate, unless they go after someone else or draft someone.
I disagree… I’ve been a fan since the Simms days and have watched every game since he came into the league. That being said, these things are subjective. He has the 9th most drops in the league, even though the team focuses on the run (ie his drop percentage is even higher than most), the oline is definitely improved, but he’s second in the league in QB “hurries”, and lastly, who the heck is he even throwing to? He’s got arguably the worst receiving group in the league, specially when you account for injuries… And that also goes with the oline… He’s surrounded by mostly rookies and journeymen/scrap heap players. The guy simply doesn’t have the supporting cast. Just ask Aaron Rodgers what that’s like.
I will say that I laughed when you mentioned the ints off of Engrams hands… That used to drive me nuts.. Lol.
So back to Jones, and this is one thing I would ask my 72 yr old step dad who was with you on the Jones thing before this season… WHO would you replace him with that the Giants can reasonably get? That’s an important question to ask yourself. Just curious.
I don’t disagree with you on a lot of those points. It’s difficult to properly judge Jones because it seems like he always has a terrible OL and a decimated WR corps. imo, people think he’s grown because earlier in the year (before Neal and others went down with injury) he actually did have a good OL. Now, like you say, due to injuries, they’re down to the scrap heap again. And Jones is back to playing poorly because he has no time.
Same with the WR. They’re decimated with injuries again. But I still see some of the same things (staring down his target, inaccuracy, etc) that we’ve seen throughout his career.
Who should they replace him with? I honestly don’t know. Who’s available? Is Jimmy G? Is there a QB in the draft? There might be no one, in which case a one year deal might be a good idea, though the franchise tag seems way too expensive because who is offering Jones anywhere near that on the open market?
Good to see another long time Giants fan here. I’m also a fan going back to Simms.
I respect your reply RCT… It’s good to see another “old head” on here. Also, I respect your response. If I was on my laptop and could respond better, I would.. But to counter some of your points quickly, he stares down hours targets for two reasons.. One he historically has a couple of seconds to throw off he’s lucky (bad oline for 3+years), second, he only has had a couple of average NFL receivers to throw to and he knows that… So he’s targeting them from the jump.. Also, he’s been very accurate statistically speaking. He’s actually 23rd (from worst to best) in poor pass percentage this year.. That means that he’s very accurate with what he has to work with. 🙂
If you watched him you would see a player that has taken is to a 7-4 record with guys like david sills tanner hudson marcus johnson richie james and whoever else off the street. Oline a mess again and no neal or feliciano which is why barkley had 0 room last 2 weeks. There is no qb that could of been successful with a roster like he has had his whole career in the nfl. Never a good oline. Receivers who drop the ball. Barkley hurt 2 years. Like can the guy get a chance to play with weapons and a good oline? DEFENSE hasmt been great either.
Right, but I’m saying he appears to look better because A) the line was better earlier in the year, now that it’s like what it was last year, Jones is back to not playing well, B) better coaching and play-calling (more designed runs, which is a strength of Jones), C) Barkley is back and playing well.
Look at him actually playing the position, though. Has his accuracy improved? No. Is he able to cycle through his progressions and pick a new target? Not really, he still stares down his target. Does he make any decisions quicker? Not really, he still holds the ball too long and is poor at sensing pressure. Can he throw on the run? No. And deep balls/downfield throws are almost non-existent.
Maybe it’s because I was too high on his rookie year (I thought he looked great for a rookie aside from his fumble issues) where others were down on him, but I don’t see a major improvement over his first four years. He is who he is: tough, a good leader, but ultimately at best he’s a game manager who can get you some 1st downs but won’t win you many games on his own. An extension would be a big mistake.
Owner of the worst nicknames in the league.
Feels a Grap or other vet pickup/trade in the offseason.
“there is a difference between being a legitimate NFL starter and being a franchise cornerstone”.
Sometimes that line gets blurred. I’m sure most Giant fans regard Eli Manning as a franchise cornerstone. Most would not feel the same way about Andy Dalton, even though the Red Rifle has a better career win percentage and passer rating.
SB’s matter!
But no one wins a championship by themselves. Even Eli would admit he got a lot of support from both sides of the line.
Of course he would, but Eli had two great playoff runs and shined when it mattered. He doesn’t have two Super Bowl MVPs for nothing. I don’t think any Giants fan would argue that he was an all time great, but they would take him over Andy Dalton (whose career is not as similar to Eli’s as you think it is; Dalton is already washed up and his numbers fall far short of Eli’s) any day of the week.
Dalton has a better career win percentage and passer rating despite having had much less support around him than Eli had.
Win percentage? Seriously? An NFL team has over 50 guys on the roster as well as tons of coaches. You may as well be citing pitcher W-L in baseball. Besides, Eli is at .500 while Dalton is 80-75-2, so there’s barely a difference.
And rating on his own doesn’t mean a whole lot. Dalton’s is 87.5, meanwhile John Elway is 79.9.
There’s a reason Dalton has been bouncing around the league for three years. 20,000 fewer yards and 100 fewer TDs than Eli. And most importantly, Eli wasn’t a dud in the playoffs like Dalton. Was Eli great? No. Better than Dalton, who has never won a playoff game? Absolutely, no question.
I don’t agree.. I’m a long time, die hard Giants fan and I always argued that if Eli’s last name was Smith, he wouldn’t have been around for the Superbowls… You think Jones had turnovers, Eli had like 27 ints one year… He was inaccurate and turned the ball over way to much. The Giants NASCAR package won those Superbowls, in spite of Eli, not because of him.
I’m of the same opinion as Chris. I think Dalton could have led those Giant teams to championships and I’m rather skeptical that Manning could have lasted 9 years in Cincinnati as the Red Rifle did.
Mike Lupica, NYC tabloids’ master of alternative facts, disinformation, and fake news, thinks Jones is going to get a new contract from the Giants. History shows when you don’t get your 5th-year option picked up your next contract will be with a different club.
We are not getting pick high enough to draft stroud young levis etc so im brininging Jones back next year woth an improved roster amd giving him q more chance. Hes no aaron rodgers but look at rodgers this year with his rookie receivers. Team down in the dumps cause they made mistakes that davante adams cobb amd lazard wouldnt make. But those rookies doubs watson etc are still better then giants receivers. We are 7-4 amd Jones has been rock solid this year
No need to waste money on Barkley. His performance the last couple of weeks was indicative of his true worth.
Geez, am I that old? I remember when Scott Brunner was started over Simms for a bit due to the latter’s injuries but also a feeling he wasn’t “the guy.” Luckily Parcells ultimately made the right decision there. Also I lived through Kent Graham and Dave Brown and Danny Kanell.
I think a one year prove it deal for Jones is the right way to go but either trade up to get a franchise type or find a good veteran for a few years. If Jones is a backup, fine. I see him as a Teddy Bridgewater type…not the same player, but the guy who can win a few games and not do anything insanely stupid, but not a franchise guy.
For the Eli comments, in 2007 he was carried by the defense more than anything, and did have Burress, Toomer, and Shockey. But in 2011 Eli carried that team through the regular season until the running game and defense woke up in time for the playoffs. He had almost 5000 yards; Eli (and Cruz) are the only reasons that team made it in.
I think signing Barkley to a top dollar 5 year extension is the easy way out; in the long run the team would make out better by spending its money on the o-line and defense. And I like Barkley.
I think they should resign Jones for a year or 2 and draft QB for the future. I think he can be a solid backup in the league but I don’t see him as our QB of the future.