EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Regardless of the obvious stalemate that got here after seemingly limitless day by day conferences and dinners on the NFL scouting mix final week, Daniel Jones and the Giants reached an settlement on a megadeal that now retains the quarterback in New York by way of 2027.
Sources instructed ESPN that Jones agreed to a four-year deal value $160 million with $82 million assured — and one other $35 million obtainable in incentives — minutes earlier than Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline to franchise-tag gamers. The Giants instantly positioned the nonexclusive franchise tag on working again Saquon Barkley.
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Normal supervisor Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll noticed sufficient throughout their first season in New York — the place Jones performed the very best soccer of his profession and the group reached the playoffs for the primary time since 2016 — that they made the choice to re-sign him. Along with his 15 landing passes, Jones persistently made performs within the fourth quarter and carried out greatest once they wanted it most down the stretch and within the postseason.
There have been loads of doubters for the reason that Giants took Jones at No. 6 within the 2019 NFL draft out of Duke. However when the group proprietor declared that Jones was “coming into his personal” after the Giants clinched a playoff berth in January, this second appeared inevitable, regardless of the stunning sticker value.
Why did the Giants re-sign Daniel Jones?
This was at all times Schoen’s choice. He made it clear at his end-of-season information convention that “Daniel’s going to be right here,” even when it was on the franchise tag. However the tag would have been prohibitive and counted $32.4 million straight in opposition to the wage cap. That may have restricted the Giants’ potential to place the mandatory supporting solid round Jones. The tag was at all times their backup possibility.
The value level of this deal makes it clear Schoen and Daboll are of the idea that Jones can take his recreation to the following stage with higher weapons and extra time in the identical system. They view him as a perennial top-10 quarterback shifting ahead. One other yr with Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (together with some new and improved receivers) they usually assume the Giants can actually take off with Jones as their man. As a result of, fairly frankly, he is now formally their man.
Why did Jones get a lot cash?
Jones is a younger quarterback who has already proved to be a top quality participant on this league. There’s room for him to take his recreation to the following stage. With that comes the hefty price ticket. The comp all alongside in all probability ought to have been the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, who signed a deal final yr that paid him greater than $46 million yearly.
Murray has by no means thrown 30 landing passes. His excessive is 26; Jones’ is 24. Murray additionally made the playoffs simply as soon as, a first-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams wherein he threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. Murray, who does have two Professional Bowl choices to his identify, was a younger quarterback whose worth was based mostly totally on the projection that he was solely going to get higher with age and expertise.
Jones, 25, is in an analogous spot, though he added a playoff win to his résumé with a wild-card win over the Minnesota Vikings. He threw for a career-best 3,205 yards this previous season; Murray threw for slightly below 4,000 yards every of his first three years.
Backside line: Quarterbacks receives a commission.
What does this imply for Jones and the Giants long run?
The group has its quarterback for at the very least the following three years. Jones is that man. Within the greenback vary of 40-plus million per season, that places him seventh amongst all quarterbacks. That’s, till Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert blow previous him within the subsequent yr or two.
The Giants are hoping Jones can develop right into a constant top-10 quarterback whereas paying him outdoors that vary. In that case, it is a discount! It is a bit of a bet, nevertheless it’s one value taking, contemplating the knowledge they have already got on Jones and the opposite obtainable choices. The Giants love his work ethic, his ability set and the way he handles the calls for of being a franchise quarterback in New York.
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Why Stephen A. believes Saquon Barkley deserves more cash
Stephen A. Smith says Saquon Barkley deserves to receives a commission extra after his offensive manufacturing for the Giants this season.
What does this imply for Saquon Barkley?
Barkley misplaced any leverage he doubtlessly had. The $10.1 million franchise tag for a working again is lower than what he was already supplied and provides just one yr of safety. The deal that was sitting on the desk earlier than this was someplace within the $13 million vary, in accordance with sources near the negotiations, with the potential for it to be extra with some simply attainable incentives.
Do not be stunned to see Barkley rapidly understand this deal appears awfully good in contrast with the franchise tag and attain an settlement with the Giants relatively rapidly.
How does it have an effect on the Giants’ potential so as to add much-needed depth?
Jones’ long-team deal was crucial for Schoen and the Giants. They spent final offseason making strikes to place them in place to have monetary flexibility this yr. Utilizing the franchise tag on Jones would have spoiled that plan.
Now, the Giants can add a higher-end receiver in free company and/or a commerce. They’ll signal a receiving tight finish and add offensive line depth, along with the strikes they should make (comparable to signing a confirmed center linebacker) on the defensive aspect of the ball.
With the cap anticipated to leap considerably within the subsequent two years, Jones’ deal will not cease them from with the ability to spend. It is good for Jones and good for his supporting solid.
