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Report: Giants have 'sweet spot' for Jones deal, line in sand with Barkley

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Giants have 'sweet spot' for Daniel Jones deal, line in sand with Saquon Barkley

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/2/23

It sounds like New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen won't overpay to keep running back Saquon Barkley regardless of what happens with quarterback Daniel Jones.

After Schoen told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Combine that he is "cautiously optimistic" about signing both Barkley and Jones to long-term contracts, NFC East insider Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reported that "a bunch of NFL people" believe the "sweet spot" for a Jones deal is at around $37M per year with "the first two years guaranteed."

That contract presumably would have voidable years which would help with salary-cap issues and allow Jones to hit free agency as soon as 2025.

Talked to a bunch of NFL people last night who think the “sweet spot” for a Daniel Jones contract is $37M/year with the first two years guaranteed, and some voidable years at the end to spread out the cap hit. Then he can re-do it or be a free agent in 2025 when he’d only be 27. https://t.co/wVfS0ZsntA
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) March 1, 2023

After Jones changed agents and went from CAA to Athletes First, multiple reports said he has been searching for as much as $45M per season via his second pro contract. Vacchiano wrote on Tuesday that an NFL source told him Jones "is seeking a deal worth more than $40M per season."

To compare, it would cost the Giants roughly $32.4M in salary cap and cash to use the franchise tag to retain Jones for 2023.

As for Barkley, Vacchiano reports that the consensus opinion from those NFL people he talked with is that the Giants will let Barkley hit free agency rather than pay him more than $12.5M per year:

Also, the consensus opinion from those NFL people I talked with is that the Giants will let RB Saquon Barkley walk rather than raise their offer (roughly $12.5M/year).

Thats just their opinion, but they didn’t think GM Joe Schoen even wants that much cap space invested at RB.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) March 1, 2023

On Feb. 16, ESPN's Jordan Raanan suggested that Barkley's camp was looking to secure a deal worth closer to at least $14M per year from the Giants. Using the franchise tag on Barkley for 2023 would cost New York around $10.1M in salary cap and cash.

According to Michael Eisen of the Giants' website, Schoen insisted on Tuesday he has no doubt Jones will remain with the organization through the offseason.

"We're going to try to get Daniel done," Schoen said. "We wouldn't be in this situation, negotiating with Daniel, if we didn't want him to be our quarterback."

The deadline for teams to utilize their tags is next Tuesday, and the new league year opens on March 15. It seems Barkley's tenure with the Giants could be over as soon as March 8 depending on what happens with the team's franchise tag before that date.

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