Daniel Jones’ asking price seems to be a little bit steep for the Giants.
The representatives for the New York Giants quarterback are reportedly asking for more than $45 million per year in negotiations for a long term contract, league sources tell Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.
Giants GM Joe Schoen said on Thursday’s “Good Morning Football” that he wished the team and Jones were a little closer without getting too much into detail, noting that there is still time.
But not that much time. The franchise tag deadline is March 7 and the Giants must figure out a deal then or make a decision to tag Jones — which would mean he would play on a one-year, $32.4 million contract if they cannot come to terms by mid-July.
The other caveat in all this, as Ian Rapoport noted on NFL Network, is that the team would tag Saquon Barkley if a long-term deal is reached for Jones.
But if the Giants are committed to Jones at quarterback, playing him on the franchise tag is a $12 million difference in 2023 and possibly $8 million in 2024 if they were to tag him again (2024 tag is projected to be $37.05 million).
It had previously been reported that Jones wanted at least $45 million a year when he switched agencies ahead of negotiations late last month.
A salary north of $45 million annually would put Jones in the same class as Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, although Rodgers, Derek Carr, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts could all receive extensions this year to put them in that annual salary range.
Jones is coming off a strong season without much help in his receiving corps, but while the Giants have continued to publicly express support for the QB, they will ultimately have to decide whether or not they believe he should be paid like a top-10 quarterback, and it could cost them their running back if not.
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