New York Giants Storylines Ahead of Combine

Let's look at some of the storylines expected to play out this week for the Giants.

Daniel Jones's Contract

Daniel Jones has always been a polarizing figure among the fan base, some of whom love him and others do not. And now that he's at a crossroads with the team regarding his contract, there remain those who want to move on from him and those who are fine with him returning.

The question is, at what cost? There have been several reports of Jones wanting at least $40 million per year, which is his right to seek if those reports are true. Jones has also been vilified for having changed agents, something that likely happened due to contract talks not progressing at a reasonable pace--the agent switch is also Jones's right, by the way.

Some are ready to vilify Jones if the Giants need to use the franchise tag to retain him, the cost of which is $32.417 million and which immediately comes out of their cap, potentially hamstringing Schoen's other planned roster moves.

But here's the thing. The Giants don't have to agree to Jones's asking price, whatever it is. For as long as negotiations have existed, one side always starts high and the other side low, only to meet in the middle. That's what's expected to happen here.

Even if Jones does get the franchise tag, the Giants can still clear out some more money to "make up" for the difference by extending Dexter Lawrence and Leonard WIlliams (which would lower their cap numbers) and cutting Kenny Golladay.

With Golladay, the Giants would benefit more if he were made a post-June 1 cut, but in retrospect, if the team franchises Jones and then the two sides agree to a new deal, the $32 million franchise tag number should be cut in half in the first year of the contract. So the Giants wouldn't be in as much of a problem if they had to franchise their quarterback.

Expect the Giants to continue having discussions with Jones's new reps, who, along with the rest of the agent community, will be in Indianapolis for meetings and to support their draft clients. Whether a deal gets done before the March 7 deadline remains to be seen, but it's hard not to imagine Jones isn't the team's top priority right now.

Saquon Barkley's Contract

While the Giants figure out what will happen with Jones, Saquon Barkley could find his contract talks go into a holding pattern, especially if the two sides are still far apart on an agreement.

For Barkley's side, patience is key. He doesn't need to settle for an offer he feels right now isn't in his best interest. Instead, find out what the team plans to do with the franchise tag first, as that answer will probably drive his side's next moves.

In other words, there is no reason for Barkley to take a deal right now unless the Giants agree to meet him in his range--and based on what insights Schoen has shared, it doesn't sound as though the two sides are particularly close to being int he same ballpark.

While the Giants would like to have Barkley back, the good news is that the running backs class is especially deep this year, where the Giants could find some additional talent to supplement their needs for the position.

And the Rest

Regardless of what happens with Jones and the franchise tag, the Giants will probably look to lower the cap hits of defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence, who are in the final years of their respective contracts.

Don't Forget the Draft!

We obviously can't forget about the purpose of the combine, which is to watch the bulk of the draft class go through drills, get medical updates, and conduct team interviews. The Giants could have another decision to make when they go on the clock at No. 25.

Do they dip into the cornerback position, a unit that's been touted as one of the deepest in recent years? Or maybe they go with receiver, a position they need to add to if they're bringing Daniel Jones back? Do they add to the pass rush, or will it be an interior offensive lineman at No. 25?

Or--wait for it--might the Giants consider trading out of the first round to pick up extra Day 2 picks that they can optimize value-wise?

No decisions are likely to be made at the combine regarding what they'll do, but the possibility for a discussion is certainly there and something for Schoen to consider.