New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst scoffs at 'absurd' money being linked to Daniel Jones

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/1/23

The New York Giants have a few tough decisions this offseason, but the main focus will likely be on the quarterback position and whether or not free agent Daniel Jones is part of the future or the past.

Jones, who made $956,000 in 2022, is due a substantial raise wherever he lands. However, NFL Network's Kyle Brandt thinks the money linked to Jones is far too much.

"All this ridiculous, bloated comp-based negotiation that their agents will do about, 'Well, Kyler Murray signed a $230 million deal, so we're not going to take a penny less,'" Brandt said. "If it comes to that, it's so absurd the idea that Daniel Jones is going to get $35, $40 million to get what, the 18th best quarterback in the league? The 20th? I don't even know."

Kyle Brandt says there needs to be a middle class when it comes to quarterbacks getting paid, but there isn't one.

He says that the idea of Daniel Jones being paid $35-$40M per year is "absurd" pic.twitter.com/Y5fA4Zamyh
— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 31, 2023

Jones did make some improvements in 2022, especially in the ball security department. The Giants also made the postseason under Jones, finishing 9-6-1 in the highly competitive NFC East before shocking the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

While the Giants' brass has been candid about their desire to have Jones back, it's uncertain if they believe he's worth a lucrative, long-term commitment. After all, the Giants declined Jones' fifth-year option, which would have paid him an estimated $22.3 million in 2023, per Spotrac. If the Giants felt that amount was too much to commit to Jones ahead of the 2022 season, did they see enough to pay him significantly more for longer, less than a year later?

Slapping the franchise tag on Jones would reportedly cost the Giants $32.4 million in 2023, so that option is likely out. That leaves either re-signing Jones or letting him walk in free agency as the only other scenarios on the table for New York.

The only question remaining is if the Giants are willing to pay up. If not, someone else undoubtedly will.

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