The New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones tried to leverage his one decent season into a major payday. The Giants and Jones had a public negotiating period early this offseason until the two parties agreed to a four-year deal worth $160 million in March. The Giants finished the deal in time to assign running back Saquon Barkley the franchise tag this season.
The deal makes Jones the ninth-highest-paid quarterback in annual paychecks at $40 million annually. He’s guaranteed $81 million of that. But he initially wanted much more from the Giants.
Daniel Jones wanted top-5 pay from the New York Giants
According to Dan Duggan with The Athletic, Jones wanted $47 million annually.
“I figured the Giants would want to stay under the $40 million per year mark and proposed a five-year, $185 million contract ($37 million per year). But Jones’ camp drove a harder bargain than anticipated.
I expected Jones’ asking price to be sky high, using the $46 million per year deal signed by Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray last year as a comp. But Jones went higher, seeking $47 million per year.
With negotiations coming down to the franchise tag deadline in March, Jones was able to reach the $40 million per year mark with a four-year, $160 million deal. The key for the Giants is an escape hatch after 2024: The team can dump Jones after two seasons to create $21.5 million in cap savings with $18 million in dead money.”
$47 million is a lot of money for a quarterback who hasn’t made a Pro Bowl. That salary would have made Jones the fifth-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL behind only Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson.
Jones asked for that payday after posting his best professional season that saw the Giants upset the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round. He threw for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. His running game improved last season as well. Jones ran for over 700 yards last season. He’s thrown for 11,603 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 34 interceptions through his first four seasons.
Top five pay for a less than 2:1 touchdown-interception ratio? No way. $40 million is even questionable.
The Green Bay Packers could see this with Jordan Love
The Packers signed Jordan Love to a prove-it deal this spring instead of picking up his fifth-year option. He won’t become a free agent until after next season. However, if he has a performance like Jones this season, all bets could be off after this season.
That’s a low bar that Jones set for the quarterback market. Love isn’t going to want to be shortchanged by $27 million if he comes anywhere near what Jones threw for in 2022.
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