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Giants hold onto Jones, Barkley while protecting themselves

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, right, celebrates with teammate running back Saquon Barkley. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Giants hold onto QB Daniel Jones, RB Saquon Barkley while protecting themselves

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/7/23

The New York Giants are keeping the band together for at least another season as it pertains to quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.

Per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network and also ESPN, the Giants and Jones have agreed to a four-year contract that could be worth up to $160M and includes an additional $35M in incentives.

Because the two sides worked things out before 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the Giants were able to use the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Barkley's rights for 2023.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio pointed out earlier on Tuesday that NFL contracts are often smaller than they first seem. In short, Jones likely will never make close to $160M from this deal as it will exist when it's signed:

The full guarantee on Giants QB Daniel Jones' deal: $82 million.

Covers the first two years of the contract.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 7, 2023

Daniel Jones
Saquon Barkley @MikeGarafolo, @rapsheet, and @tompelissero have the details on the Giants moves before today's deadline. pic.twitter.com/7xR5TU09E4
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 7, 2023

The tag on Barkley could cost the Giants about $10.1M in salary cap and cash. However, NFC East insider Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reported that "a source said the Giants are hopeful of signing" Barkley "sooner than later."

Garafolo reported earlier in the day that New York could offer the 26-year-old around $13M per year now that the club has a deal done with Jones:

Giants reportedly are willing to give Saquon a contract of 13+ Million AAV if they have the opportunity to tag Saquon Barkley according to @MikeGarafolo pic.twitter.com/0UZOGulnEK
— Monte (@MONTECRI5TO) March 7, 2023

Barkley reacted to Tuesday's developments via Twitter:

Congrats brudda !!! @Daniel_Jones10 ✊ https://t.co/cJJWlAXoR9
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 7, 2023

Under first-year head coach Brian Daboll, Jones produced the best campaign of his pro career and remained healthy enough to make 16 regular-season starts.

Across those games, Jones tossed 15 touchdown passes and rushed for seven scores, and he threw just five interceptions. Per ESPN stats, the 25-year-old was tied for sixth among qualified players with a 60.8 adjusted QBR, 15th with 3,205 passing yards, and fifth among quarterbacks with 708 rushing yards.

Barkley finished the 2022 regular season fourth in the entire league with 1,312 rushing yards and ninth with 10 touchdowns on the ground. He also recorded 57 catches for 338 yards.

Now that Giants general manager Joe Schoen has avoided using a franchise tag on Jones that would've cost approximately $32.416M in salary cap and cash, the executive should have needed cap space to bolster his roster once free agency opens on March 15.

With Daboll leading the charge, the 2022 Giants shocked many by going 9-7-1 and then winning a road playoff game.

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