MARCH 5: Jones and New York brass are expected to leave the scouting combine today “with no contract resolution in sight,” as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). Pelissero’s NFL Network colleague, Mike Garafolo, says it always seemed likely that, if a long-term deal is going to be struck prior to the March 7 deadline for teams to utilize the franchise tag, it will happen in the 48 hours leading up to the deadline (Twitter link). However, Pelissero’s report suggests that there is still a great deal of work to be done in these negotiations.
MARCH 3, 4:00pm: Painting a more optimistic picture of the situation compared to Leonard’s report, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that progress has been made in recent days between the two sides. He adds that a contract being finalized before the tag deadline “doesn’t seem unreasonable,” something which would of course carry massive implications for the team if it were to happen. Jones being signed would allow for the franchise tag to become an option for Barkley, thus keeping him off the market. Raanan also echoes the expectation that Jones’ deal will check in at a value of at least $40MM per season.
MARCH 3, 8:57am: Daniel Jones‘ rumored $45MM-per-year price point emerged almost two weeks ago. Despite the Giants negotiating with their free agent-to-be quarterback daily this week, they do not appear to be making progress.
Not only has Jones not come down from that lofty number, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports his ask is beyond $45MM on average. GM Joe Schoen said Thursday he wished the two sides were closer on terms by this point. The gap between where the Giants want this deal to land and what Jones’ camp points to a franchise tag.
The Giants initially feared Jones’ ask would come in beyond $35MM per year. Given the developments since the sides started negotiating, that number sounds reasonable now. Guarantee structure will matter here, but it does not appear the Giants are entertaining a number north of $45MM AAV. That is top-five (for now) quarterback money — north of Patrick Mahomes‘ 10-year deal’s average — and it points to Team Jones viewing the fifth-year passer as ascending to the point the Giants need to pay up for what he will be with a stronger supporting cast.
Jones’ wild-card performance in Minnesota notwithstanding, his being connected to an ask in this neighborhood after a 15-touchdown pass season is interesting. The Giants’ wide receiver plan broke down to the point a waiver claim (Isaiah Hodgins) had emerged as his go-to target by season’s end. Saquon Barkley was by far the team’s best skill player. Jones’ ask staying at this place could certainly lead to the sixth-year running back hitting the market.
The $37MM-AAV range has emerged as a sweet spot here; that would check in around the price of a 2024 Jones franchise tag. This year’s QB tag is $32.4MM, explaining the gap between the Giants and Jones four days away from the deadline to tag players.
Evaluators at this week’s Combine have classified Jones as an above-average quarterback not in the top tier at his position, Leonard adds, noting execs would want to see more before entertaining a contract in this price range. “Above average” is a safe label, even after Jones’ surprising 2022 season. The 25-year-old QB is a year removed from the Giants passing on a $22.4MM fifth-year option. Now, the prospect of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson moving the top of the QB market is likely affecting the Giants.
This offseason brings a handful of quarterback-needy teams. The Jets and Saints are leading the way in terms of those connected to veteran arms, with Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr at the forefront. The Giants are not planning to let Jones test free agency; the only way he could gauge his value is to negotiate with other teams while on the tag. It would cost a team two first-round picks to pry Jones from the Giants, who would need to match an offer sheet to keep him in that scenario. Would another team’s offer come close to a deal in the high-$40MM range?
Even if this offseason saga is unlikely to reach that point, the Giants are on the verge of being stuck with a $32.4MM tag clogging their payroll going into free agency. The team sits near the top of the league in terms of cap space, holding $46.9MM as of Friday morning. Its equation would change if/once Jones is tagged.
Like 20M a year apart. Don’t walk, run. Run away from any deal w Jones. Look at all of the mediocre QBs that teams have signed to long term deals and instantly regretted. Better talents than Jones have imploded.
Honestly, you might get better value trying to salvage a Baker Mayfield at a fraction of the cost or a slightly higher price for Jimmy G. Maybe Jones has more upside but would you want to put 35M plus into that pipe dream? Or invest it into better surrounding parts, tab a steward and accumulate draft capital to find that real franchise QB.
What I don’t understand is why Jones wouldn’t just take a compromise. Even if Jones is a solid QB, he’s going to get an extension once the guaranteed money runs out. I get he wants top $ but he will get $47 per year or more on his next deal. That’s just how it works.
The funniest thing about this whole thing is the Giants perspective. They never blinked when Eli asked to be the highest paid players in the league. Yes he won the two super bowls but he was 1 and done in his other 4 playoff appearances. Jones won a playoff game with a roster that Eli would have won 6 games with. He’s more talented than Eli and can actually carry a team. I just think there’s a lot of irony in this whole situation.
Even the compromise is a massive overpay. We’re talking about a quarterback who had a good (not even great) year in a contract year. If I’m the Giants I run as fast as I can away from this guy.
Listen, I’m obviously a Jets fan but if peak Eli was the QB for the Giants last season, they aren’t in the playoffs. They would have won 6 games at most. If the Giants sign Jones for $40 mil, they can structure it in a way that it doesn’t kill their cap. They can bring back Saquon and bring in talent. The cap will continue to go up and Jones can re-sign a new deal in 3 years. I just don’t see how giving Jones $40 mil is bad. Herbert, Burrow, Lawrence are going to get $50 million or more.
He doesn’t want $40 though, he wants closer to $50.
Herbert, Burrow and Lawrence are far superior to Jones.
He is a BACKUP on a good team. Goodbye
Agree, I can’t imagine any other team offering anywhere near that kind of money, and he might be considered more of a backup QB or bridge option. 15 TDs during his breakout year high doesn’t guarantee his future success, even if he didn’t have a lot of tools, but blowing the cap on Jones makes zero sense.
Who is Daniel Jones backup?
Daniel Jones
Tyrod Taylor
You have a point about the guaranteed money. Unless Jones’ team considers last year to be his ceiling, a shorter deal with more guaranteed money could have been in play. I get why both sides are offering what they are-Jones wants the security of a deal that also won’t be eclipsed too soon, and the Giants are unwilling to commit totally to a player who has been underwhelming for most of his career.
Jones really improved this year, and I don’t necessarily mean that in a statistical sense. He seemed much more comfortable and much more in control of the offense as a whole. Having a healthy and rejuvenated Saquon was key, of course, but the overall change in New York seems to have had a massively positive impact all-around. The presence of Daboll and Kafka (and possibly the additional departure of Jason Garrett) really positively effected Jones. The positive is also the negative, though. Jones has shown that he will respond to better coaching-which is cause for celebration for the Giants’ management. However, it has also created this financial question by allowing Jones to angle for a higher tier contract based on renewed potential. I’m sure that the Giants are pleased with Jones’ development, but are they willing to bet so much on buying that his potential has returned under the new staff?
This deal will be based on that potential, and how much they think that it’s worth. If New York thinks that this is just the beginning of what they can now get, then they need to do the deal. If they think that this was impressive but not too much more will come from it, then they need to tag Jones and start scouting anew. The tag might not be the worst option-if Jones continues to excel, New York will have more peace of mind entrusting him with a longer and more lucrative deal, and Jones can get a guaranteed one year salary while also gaining more confidence in what he is worth financially.
You have to wonder how much of the Giants hardball approach with Jones and Barkley is simply because they’re strongly connected to Gettleman’s regime.
I do not want him on this team he isn’t worth $45 let him see what he gets on the open market and let that team suffer with any contact he signs.
I could see the Giants running with two decent QBs and having a competition
Tyrod Taylor and Case Keenum? Have fun with that
They are on the lower end of decent yes
Less touchdowns than Russell Wilson…
…on a “good” year.
He had one less passing touchdown and four more rushing touchdowns.
Yep.
Jones is not, in any way, a $45 million/year quarterback.
I’d sign him for $4.5m a year. He’s a clip board holder.
Let him walk. He will run back for a cheaper deal after he figures out that nobody else will pay him more than $25M. Go ahead, go be on the Panthers or Commanders.
Dump him!
Jones has the leverage tho, strong QB market and still has upside, has shown elite flashes at times. In no way is he a $45m/yr QB, but can’t vlame the guy for trying. Cash in while you can
Absolutely not. With a “one-year wonder” track record, which really isn’t that impressive, and top-five financial demands, no sane GM is going to take that deal. There are several options as good as Jones, if not better, for a fraction of the price. The draft is also quite deep with prospects this year.
“Jones has the leverage tho, strong QB market”
No, he doesn’t. The fact that there’s a strong QB market is proof of that. Giants could just pivot to someone else. On top of that, they could just walk away from negotiations and tag him at $32 million.
Giants hold the cards here, not Jones.
They do, but tagging him would eat up 80% of their cap space they have right now. They will make adjustments to free up some more space but it really hampers them.
If they tag him, Barkley is gone.
“Pay the man.” – rest of the NFC East
Can’t imagine what his new agent is feeding him, but the NFL should have him tested.
Let. Him. Walk.
Jones is not a 45mm a year player.
He is not a 35 mm player.
I’d rather spend my cap money wisely, draft a tight end, guard and center.
Go get Mike White for $22 mm per. and put him behind a quality O line.
Watch Kafka and Daboll “coach him up.”
We will be talking about it live at 9pm eastern at Facebook.com/2giantgoofballs
“Wants to be paid for what he will be with a better supporting cast”. But if you do that, you can’t afford a better supporting cast. Run away as quickly as possible
I can’t believe Giants fans willing to let Jones walk when Eli Manning robbed you guys blind his whole career. Jones getting $40 mil won’t be $40 mil against the cap. It will be a lot less. The salary cap will go up and his $40 could be a relative bargain in 2-3 years.
LOL, a Jets fan trying to goad the Giants into blowing their cap on an average (if that) QB. Your team does that so much better…
Fine. Tell me Sherm, what’s Plan B?
The Giants don’t need the Jets’ help into blowing the cap. NYC’s blue team gets all the help it needs from the White Male Sports Media and the barely breathing tabloids.
Gentleman blew your cap, not the Jets
Eli gave them two rings. That’s something only a select few can say.
Manning also was one-and-done in the playoffs 4 times. That’s what happens when you have to put up with Coughlin and Beckham.
Who cares? He won two Super Bowls. No idea why you come to every Giants article to trash talk them.
Eli either won it all or underachieved. Three one-and-dones with a coach who was kept on 2 years too long. A fourth one-and-done just days after the Boat Trip. Such is why Eli is borderline for Canton.
Yeah, three one-and-dones, and two Super Bowl runs for the ages. I’ll take that all day, every day, and twice on Sunday.
Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl yet he’s not in the Hall of Fame.
It’s easy to worship rings when the ends justify the means.
LOL, Eli’s going to the Hall. He’s 10th in passing yards, TDs, and completions (which is better than Elway and Montana) to go along with his two SBs and SB MVPs. But keep the hate alive if that makes you feel better.
Yeah, because winning the Super Bowl makes the National Sports Media forget about all the times the Giants crapped the bed.
Wouldn’t it be something if the Jets signed Daniel Jones to back up Mike White? (and I say that as a Jets fan)
“Eli either won it all or underachieved.”
Again: who cares? He won two Super Bowls (with two Super Bowl MVPs) and is the greatest Giants QB of all time. Your weird obsession with bashing the Giants is both tiresome and nonsensical.
Banished Words List!
don’t trip running to another team!
Ha, best comment here.
The worst thing you can do is overpay an average quarterback. He improved last year, but you’re locking yourself into mediocrity if you pay him that much. I’m not saying he’s bad but he’s not worth franchise QB money no matter how high the cap spikes.
If the Giants want to tag him then I guess it’s not the worst option, but if he still wants that much then don’t bother with an extension. If you let him walk, you could get similar production from Derek Carr for maybe 2/3 of the cost or Jimmy G for probably half the cost. I get why they wouldn’t want to let him or Barkley walk, but it’s just as much of a risk to bring them both back than it is to keep them.
Can’t blame the Giants one bit. Jones has been historically a mediocre player, no chance to overpay for a good showing no against a mediocre Vikings team
I still think Jones wants to get tagged. He wants $32 million with a chance to hit the market again next year after a season of (presumably) having a better WR corps as well as some offensive continuity.
$45 million for Jones is an absurd ask and could skyrocket Jones to the top of worst contracts in the league. He knows this, his agent knows this, the Giants know this. Jones is begging the Giants to tag him.
The Giants COULD tag him a second time next year, but Jones would have to show significant improvement over last season to justify that.
@hubcap: I think the number on a consecutive tag is higher than the first tag. I’m by no means an expert so maybe I’m wrong here, but googling it, the second tag would be 120% of the first one, which would put the second tag at $39 million or so. That does seem pretty reasonable if he improves again this year.
I’m pretty sure you’re right… That’s what prompted my “significant improvement” opinion. I honestly don’t view him as a $39MM QB now; this year’s tag gives the team a chance to see if the improvement he showed this year is real or a fluke. Two years in a row of obvious improvement? Okay, let’s talk…
It seems that way. He’s not going to make it easy for the Giants to franchise Barkley instead. The Giants could decide to do that anyway, let him walk, and get a late third rounder in 2024.
Better to overpay for Barkley (a bit) and keep the tag free Naughty Boy Danny Jones. Far from certain, Jones’s play was worth the fuss now being made about him.
He’s crazy if he thinks he’s worth those numbers. Welcome to the XFL!
Jokes is asking for $45MM per year? Didn’t know Scott Boras started representing NFL players.
Jones is an idiot if he thinks he deserves or is going to get $45M a year or more!!!!
Did Jones forget how bad he was
Beyond delusional
Why does this guy want that much money? Because he had a career year in passer rating of 92.5? Lol He’s proven nothing so far in his career
I’ll take the league minimum. You can save 44 mill and get slightly less production
Pretty sure after the first hit, you’d be in the hospital and they’d need to roll out Plan B.
I still like that plan better than Jones at 40+million AAV.
Jokes on you, I’m willing to play for publicity!
40 million for Jones is insane
Giants are idiots.. give him unexclusive tag if anything and dare anyone else to pay that
Dare anyone to pay that PLUS two firsts…
The Giants made the decision on Jones last year by not picking up his 5th year extension. Jones “career” year is still pedestrian by today’s standards and thus should be viewed as the outlier – not a precursor to future greatness.
The only thing farther apart is Jones and Reality.
Call his hilarious bluff: let him walk. He’s not worth half of what he’s asking.
His “breakout season” was also his worst WR squad and “tuck & run” is not a $45M QB.
Let Chicago set that Milestone in Stupidity with Fields
Welcome to the Raiders. Let’s face it, signing him would be such a Josh McDaniels type of a move. I almost feel bad for Raider fans. Almost
Welcome to the XFL Dog!
Let him walk! Spend the money on OLine and D. How do you go from not picking up an option to destroying your team for the next 5 years following a 15 TD season?
They should just let Jones negotiate elsewhere. He’ll come back to the Giants when he realizes there is a very limited market for him and one that won’t meet his salary demands.
It is possible that Schoen could be bluffing and may just let him test free agency and not slap the tag on. If he’s labeled around the league as above average I can’t see teams offering $40m plus no matter how it’s spread out.
I don’t understand the Giants’ logic/struggle: just sign Barkley and non-exclusive tag Jones. I know they want to play hardball with Barkley, but even if they give him $14M/yr for 3 years, that is only $5M more than what they want to pay him. $5M is way less than the difference between what Jones wants and the tag($32.5) for just one year. Plus they get to see another year of Jones before committing. Easy, no-brainer.
Dude has set himself up to be hated by NYG fans.
He wasn’t worth the #6 pick
He’s not worth $45M nor half that
Tag & Trade him somewhere or just let him walk and sign Dalton, Jameson, etc.
Worst case, you have Saquon locked up and a shot at Caleb next season
$45M
GTAFOH
I’d rather have an injured Lamar than a healthy dj at that price