Daniel Jones was gently warned that going through contract negotiations for the first time could be an eye-opening and uncomfortable experience, but in the end, he and the Giants were able to come to terms on a four-year, $160 million deal that Jones told reporters he officially signed on Tuesday night.
“It was my first time going through it,” Jones said. “There’s an emotional component to it as well. We went up to the deadline, as you know, but it was good. There were probably some points where you had more confidence, and points in time where you had less confidence.
“I wanted to find a way to work it out, that was the goal. I'm glad we did. I'm thrilled to be back.”
Negotiations reportedly got “tense at times” in the late hours of Monday night, with the Giants standing firm at $40 million per year after upping their initial offer, and after continuing negotiations on Tuesday, the two sides were able to come to an agreement just before Tuesday’s deadline.
As a result, Saquon Barkley was given the non-exclusive franchise tag, which will likely lead to a lesser payday in addition to the already lukewarm nature of the running back market across the league. A close friend of Barkley’s, Jones deflected when asked if he thought about what his contract could mean for Barkley’s salary, but continued to sing Barkley’s praises as a teammate and person.
“In a situation like this, you're trying to do what's best for you and your family while also balancing being part of a team and understanding the goals and the vision that we have as a team,” Jones said. “That was certainly important to me throughout the deal. I think we found a way to do both those things and do it the right way for both sides.
“Saquon means a ton to me as a teammate and as a friend, and means a ton to us as a player. I won’t talk about his business, but that was a piece of it too.”
Jones agreeing to a deal rather than the franchise tag certainly helps the Giants on the salary cap front, especially with how the first year of his deal is structured, but his payday alone now puts the spotlight on him to build upon his career year, a challenge he willingly accepts.
“I've always felt the pressure. I take that very seriously,” Jones said. “It's my goal to earn that every day.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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