Daniel Jones likely to be franchise tagged, asking for 45 million?
Daniel Jones and the Giants showed more than potential in 2022. They not only made the playoffs but beat the Minnesota Vikings on the road.
With both Jones and work horse running back Saquon Barkley potentially hitting free agency, re-signing both players will be difficult for New York. According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, Jones is likely to be franchise tagged after asking for as much $45 million per year.
The two-week window for NFL teams to apply the franchise tag begins on Tuesday. Meaning that if Jones signs a long-term extension in New York, it will have to be within the two-week window. The Giants will have to be creative to bring back two of the best potential free agents of 2023.
The New York Giants made the decision to not exercise Jones’ fifth year option last offseason, partly because the former sixth overall pick showed only small glimpses of potential over three years. Under his third head coach and in his fourth year as a starter, Jones finally looked like a franchise quarterback in 2022.
The 25-year-old quarterback may be over-evaluating his market value after one successful season, though. Jones very recently changed agents with free agency looming.
Jones is definitely good enough to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but he certainly is not worth 45 million dollars at the moment. This makes Jones much more likely to be franchise tagged for significantly less at 32.4 million.
How Much Credit Does Jones Deserve for Giants Turnaround
Since 2019, the Giants combined record as a team going into 2022 was 14-35. First-year head coach Brian Daboll has brought significant change to one of the NFL’s worst teams over the past five years. A players coach who successfully used the little talent he had to maximum value. After a divisional round loss to divisional rival Philadelphia, expectations are high for Daboll and the Giants going into 2023.
The Giants have $41.2 million in cap space to spend in free agency, some of which is likely going towards the team’s best player in Barkley. The former second overall pick had his best season since his rookie year after battling multiple injuries.
Still, Jones does deserve a portion of the credit for the Giants resurgence, but not the extent of being paid $45 million per year. All of these factors point to Jones likely being franchise tagged if he does not lower his expectations on a long-term contract. The answer to what will be done by Jones and the Giants should happen in the next couple weeks.
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