The future looks much of the same in the Big Apple, with the Giants choosing to retain both of their key offensive players for 2023
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.Y.– Just a season out from declining to pick up Daniel Jones’ fifth-year option, the New York Giants somehow backtrack on an implied arrangement to move on from Jones into a pay raise for the 25-year old quarterback from Duke.
In a move that has seemingly come out of left field, Jones got PAID, inking a 4-year, $160 million contract that rivals some of the best in the game today. Quarterback values have seemingly been on the rise, but Jones’ contract blows it out of the water.
On the same day, the New York Giants also opted to use their non-exclusive franchise tag on Saquon Barkley, their star running back who rushed for career highs in 2022. Both players have been irreplaceable keystones of the Giants offense for over four years now, and New York has made it clear that they want both to stick around.
Jones was a first-round draft pick out of Duke University in 2019. His four years in New York have been arguably average, failing to pass over 4,000 yards in one season during his tenure. Much of that could be blamed on a constant coaching carousel, bad talent around him, and a mediocre team. Look past our kvetching selves and we see Jones’ struggles for lack of a better term.
The quarterback has struggled to read defenses at times, is lousy with the football, and is slow to make reads at crucial times. Pair all that together and you don’t get a $160 million quarterback.
The Giants have absolutely blown up the quarterback market. Paying a king’s ransom for a player at Jones’ valuation is simply comical, especially when you factor in the fact that they could’ve retained him for much cheaper just a season ago. Since Jones was a first-round draft pick, the Giants had the option to pick up his fifth-year option which would’ve locked him up for 2023 under a $22 million contract, not the $40 million a year they’re now due to pay him.
Giants GM Joe Schoen has said publicly he wanted to keep both players on the roster, but seemed to renege on the idea at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine where he said, “you never let a girlfriend stop you from finding a wife” in relation to the Giants’ long-term commitment to Jones at quarterback.
Whatever that means.
Jones has also spoken out about his new contract, expressing gratitude to be able to stay in New York City, “I said after the season I love this place,” Jones said in a statement. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here and I want to be here. I have great respect for this organization, the Maras, the Tisches, my coaches and teammates. I am happy we were able to come to an agreement.”
Jones’ new contract is money filled, with $82 million guaranteed and due at signing while offering up to $35 million in incentives. Barkley on the other hand will make $10.082 million playing under the franchise tag.
Barkley and Jones have been a dynamic duo over the past couple years, with both showing steep improvement. Barkley rushed for a career-high in rushing yards in 2023 with 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. He still looks fresh, despite being drafted in 2018– however a slew of recent injuries have put some concern on his longevity in the league.
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The New York Giants had wanted to sign Barkley to a longer contract, but GM Schoen had said the two sides were too far apart for a deal to get done right now.
“Listen, Saquon’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and he’s a good football player,” Schoen also stated. “The positional value… we’ll get into how we want to build this team and allocate our resources. That’s what it comes down to.”
For now, the future pieces of the New York Giants are somewhat set. The receiver pool still leaves something to be desired though, and we expect the Giants to amend those issues through the draft.
