The franchise tag window opened at 3:00 p.m. CT today, and while it’s no surprise the Giants haven’t made a decision, daniel jones‘ Recent actions could push the team on the path to a soon. Jones has changed agents and his asking price may well tempt the Giants to tag him.
The figure of $45 million per year has been announced for the former first-round pick. This number is higher than what the Giants want to achieve; it could be significantly higher. The Giants were hoping Jones’ asking price would be lower than $40 million AAV, notes Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (video link).
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Jones has increased his value considerably this season, a statistically unspectacular but effective campaign that has provided an improvement over his first three years. A dismal Vikings defense played a role, with Jones tallying for 368 and 379 yards in the Giants’ Week 17 and wildcard round games at Minnesota. These marked Jones’s highest and second highest yardage releases that season; his overall performance in the rematch led the Giants to their first playoff win in 11 years. The 25-year-old smuggler is now in a strong position, and his recent actions inspire him to maximize it.
Regarding the negotiations, however, the Giants do not seem too far from the starting blocks. Prior to Jones’ change of agent, the parties had not formally entered into talks, notes Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Jones’ change of agent simply delayed them, according to Leonard, who adds that the change appears to have happened because of backchannel word before official talks. Although the figure of $45 million has been circulated, it has yet to be brought up in official negotiations. Jones switching agencies signals that those talks could bring turmoil, but Leonard expects a deal to be finalized.
With no quarterback tied to a deal between $35 million and $40 million a year, that latter number has become something of a dividing line. Dak Prescott And Matthew Stafford are linked to pacts of 40 million dollars a year. Both obviously proved more than Jones, although the growth in the cap puts the Duke product in a good position. Going to $45 million would take Jones beyond that Josh Allen ($43 million per year), although guarantees provide a better indication of contract value. But the $40 million price range would put Jones in interesting company. A deal between $35 million and $40 million has been the expected range for Jones for a while.
After a historically turnover-prone rookie season, Jones submitted two statistically lower years in 2020 and 2021 — the latter an injury-shortened roster. THE Joe Schoen–Brian Daboll Regime, then, did not land his $22.4 million fifth-year option in May 2022. Although Jones threw 15 touchdown passes during the 2022 regular season – nine shy of his rookie year of 13 games — finished with the league’s lowest interception rate and piloted a playoff qualifying season even as various developments wore down the Giants’ pass-catching corps. But Big Blue may be forced to further weaken its arsenal of skills to keep Jones.
New York still wants to sign both Jones and Saquon Barkley to long-term deals, ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington tweet. The label is not expected to come out before the 3 p.m. deadline on March 7. This is not uncommon; most of the tag deals are happening near the March and July deadlines. But Jones will receive the tag if he is not signed by then. This would put Barkley on the right path to becoming a free agent. The Giants tagging Barkley at $10.1 million would be far less binding than handcuffing Jones at $32.4 million. Big Blue would prefer this route, with a Jones extension producing a low enough cap number to still allow for some free agency moves.
A Jones tag would not only limit the team’s options with outside free agents, but cut funds for a last-ditch deal with Barkley. After the tag deadline, the Giants would have an additional six days of exclusive negotiations with Barkley; the legal tampering period begins on March 13. However, the Combine will give the two-time Pro Bowl running back a good indication of what will be there for him in the market. The team has offered Barkley a deal worth around $12.5 million a year, and it’s believed a $14 million pact could seal those negotiations. So signing Jones by March 7 will be the best way for the Giants to retain their two offensive mainstays.
The Titans navigated a similar situation in 2020 by re-signing Ryan Tannehill just before free agency and tagging Derrick Henry, who signed an extension that summer. The next two weeks will be eye-opening for the Giants in their efforts to retain their quarterback and running back.