Giants are about to talk themselves into worst QB contract of all time

March 8, 2023 ndowd

The New York Giants are about to sign up for one of the worst, if not the worst quarterback contract in NFL history.

Daniel Jones boldly asked for a minimum of $45 million this offseason. At first, we laughed. Then, after a while, the New York Giants looked around the room and considered what the alternatives were, and they said, “you know what, we’ll take a walk in that park.”

The Giants are up against it because two young, talented players are about to hit free agency if they don’t do something: Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. If the Giants can’t agree to an extension with Jones, they will have to tag him, meaning Barkley will probably be priced out of New York.

But if they can agree on that extension, they can tag Barkley and keep the gang together. That factor might make Jones a remarkably rich man.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Jones and the Giants are moving on contract talks.

The Giants and Daniel Jones’ reps are continuing discussions in Jersey on a long-term deal. May come down to the wire. Earlier today, team started to stand its ground, I’m told, after coming up a bunch financially. We’ll see if they find middle ground.

Tag deadline is 4 p.m. ET.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 7, 2023

While the team has started to stand its ground, the fact that they’re even talking in the range Jones is looking for is frankly, ridiculous.

Daniel Jones is about to make like a bandit with New York Giants

If Jones achieves $45 million per year, he will be making as much as Patrick Mahomes and more than Josh Allen on an average annual value basis.

Remember, Jones has won the Giants a grand total of one playoff game. And the Giants are in the NFC East, which houses Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott.

Jones proved he was more capable than the NFL world previously thought last year by dragging a relatively mediocre offense outside of Barkley to the playoffs and through to the divisional round. But does that alone make him worth $45 million?

This is the cost you pay when you simply don’t want to go back to the drawing board at quarterback. The Giants should probably tag Jones, but Barkley’s situation puts them in a corner.

The ultimate killer on the deal that lets us know if it’s good or bad will be the length and how incentive-driven it is. If the contract looks like that of the self-gamble Geno Smith just take, it’s probably OK for New York. But if large portions of the large figure are guaranteed and it’s $40+ million, we have to wonder if it’s the wost QB contract in NFL history.

If it comes in at $45 million, it rivals Russell Wilson’s, which averages out at $49 million per year in Denver and is fully guaranteed. And look how well that’s turned out for the Broncos.

It’s understandable that the Giants have to do this, but the fact that Jones has held the franchise hostage for this much money is mind-numbing.

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