Giants QB Daniel Jones reportedly initially had outrageous contract demand

Quarterback Daniel Jones agreed to a new contract to stay with the New York Giants in March but apparently wanted significantly more money than he received. 

For a piece published Wednesday, Giants beat reporter Dan Duggan of The Athletic wrote that “Jones’ camp drove a harder bargain than anticipated” this offseason. While Arizona Cardinals signal-caller Kyler Murray signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $230.5M (roughly $46M per season) with $160M guaranteed last summer, Duggan said that Jones’ representatives asked for $47M per year for the 2019 first-round draft pick. 

In the end, Jones signed a four-year deal that reportedly could be worth up to $160M and includes $82M in guarantees and an additional $35M in incentives. While some blasted the Giants for giving Jones that much cash, individuals such as Duggan have repeatedly mentioned the agreement includes “an escape hatch” that could allow the franchise to move on from the 26-year-old as soon as after the 2024 season. 

“…His deal is basically a three-year, $37.5M deal, given that the fourth year pays out $47.5M,” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk added about Jones on Wednesday. “That’s basically a team-held option that will be exercised only if the Giants believe $47.5M is a good deal.” 

In his first year playing under head coach Brian Daboll, Jones guided the Giants to a playoff berth and a road postseason victory. Per ESPN stats, he finished the 2022 regular season tied for sixth among eligible players with a 60.8 adjusted QBR and fifth among quarterbacks with 708 rushing yards. Across 16 games, he tossed 15 touchdown passes, rushed for seven scores and threw only five interceptions. 

Signing Jones allowed the Giants to hold onto star running back Saquon Barkley for the 2023 season via the non-exclusive franchise tag. If Barkley and the Giants fail to agree to a long-term deal before the July 17 deadline for teams to sign tagged players, he’ll earn $10.091M on the tag for what may become his final campaign with the team that drafted him second overall back in 2018.