The Giants clinched their first playoff berth since 2016 this afternoon, as their surprisingly successful campaign continues. Much of the team’s performance has been attributed to new head coach Brian Daboll, but two key starters on offense have been integral as well. 
Quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley entered this season with varying levels of expectation and plenty of uncertainty given their statuses as pending free agents. Updates throughout the season have illustrated the team’s priorities with respect to which (if not both) players will be targeted for deals keeping them in New York through 2023. Both long-term contracts and a franchise tag are on the table, and the team’s move with one will no doubt heavily impact their actions with the other.
Providing the latest update on the situation, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Giants see both players as franchise contributors for 2023 “and beyond” (video link). As such, he adds, they will look to get deals done with each of them, though the presence of the franchise tag likely makes multi-year deals for both of them a stretch. Rapoport also notes, unsurprisingly, that New York will have a price point which they will not exceed during upcoming negotiations.
The Giants’ new regime under Daboll and GM Joe Schoen reportedly doubted the upside Jones would provide if he were to be retained as a long-term solution under center at the start of the campaign. The former sixth overall pick has gone on to have a career-year in spite of an injury-riddled, talent-deprived pass-catching corps surrounding him, however. His signs of improvement made it noteworthy when no contract talks were held during the team’s bye week. His continued impressive play makes the Duke product an interesting case study in how the organization will handle their first two major negotiations since the coaching and front office changes.
As for Barkley, the situation has been notably different on a number of levels given his undisputed talent and production when healthy. With the Giants believing his injury issues are behind him, he was involved in bye week extension talks. Given his position, the former second overall pick would be a more logical tag candidate than Jones; the one-year pacts are projected to carry a difference of roughly $22MM next year. However, New York has reportedly been willing to commit to a big-ticket second contract with Barkley, who entered today ranked fourth in the league with 1,254 rushing yards.
Jones and Barkley will be significant factors in any postseason success the Giants have this year, as the team continues to weigh its options on how they handle this situation. Regardless of the outcome, their intention of keeping both in the fold for at least the short- and intermediate-term future is clear.
Jones is a pedestrian quarterback, not a long term solution. But then again, half the teams in the league have worse options so he’s probably the best of what’s around and he’s taking them to the playoffs.
Yeah, I’ve never been the biggest Jones guy, but a lot of teams would be happy with the 17th best QB or whatever he is. He was a weird #6 overall pick, and I wouldn’t want to give him a mega deal, but if there can be such a thing as a middle class QB contract, there are worse ways to handle the next year or two.
How can you Judge him? Hes played with a bottom 5 oline and no wrs or tes his whole career. Imagine of he had jamarr chase tee higgins tyle boyd or even cowboys lamb gallup schultz elliott pollard plus oline or eagles or chiefs bills etc… jones can be a very gpod qb of he haa weapons and protection which he never has had
17th best qb? Lol who are the 16 better ones? Mahomes allen burrow brady rodgers. Hurts? No thought anything of him before thos year. He has aj brown devante smith goedert and a great oline. Herbert ok fine but has 2 all pro receivers.
Lol
If drafting a RB in the 1st round is wrong to do, then why re-up a RB that is constantly injured?
Barkley has been healthy this season and earned his standing as an all-league RB. Jones is a dual threat QB who plays great vs. bad teams but is not so great vs. the likes of Dallas and Philly.
The franchise tag for a QB is about 3 times that for a RB, so I’d expect the Giants to give priority to keeping Barkley.
He’s missed plenty of games from 2019-2021. Would you sign him knowing that and knowing that he probably has 2 more years left on his career?
D Henry is 28 and noticeably slowing down this season. A few good bursts from him, but plenty of 3 YPC these days.
Henry is leading the league in carries and has a higher ypc (4.5) than he did last year (4.3). He’s nearly at 1500 yards and has set a career high in receptions (32; previous high was 19). And he’s doing it with poor QB play and defenses set up to stop him.
Is he 2,000 yard Derrick Henry? No, but I don’t think he’s noticeably slowed down just yet.
Are you serious? His receivers are james hodgins slayton and bellinger. His oline is crap in tge middle and his RT is in rookie struggle mode. If he had a number 1 receiver and a consistent TE then he would be fine in thoae games
There are tons of articles stating Henry isn’t the same back as he’s been in the past. Google to the effect ‘DH’s decline in 2022 season…’. I love watching Henry play, one of my favorites. But 300+ carries for many seasons has a toll. Against the Jags this year, he had a great 1st half & followed it up with 2 yards in the 2nd half.
I could have used E Elliot instead. Plenty of articles this season that Pollard is the better back in Dallas. EE is 27.
Take it easy Mrs. Jones. We get it, Danny has nothing around him and is probably an MVP in the making if given the proper players
The Giants should sign Minshew this offseason!
We all hope that’s just sarcasm on your part……
Cocaine is a hell of a drug!
As as Cowboys fan, I highly suggest you pay them both top dollar.
Prescott is a choker
And Elliott is way overpayed.
link to 2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com
I feel sorry for Daniel Jones. He is going to be a lot like Derek Carr. Forever blamed for not living up to unrealistic expectations.
If not Jones, then who? Carr? I think the Giants have to roll with Jones.
You can’t win championships without leadership and the best leaders are players who have proved they can overcome adversity.
And that would be Jones this year. A ton of pressure on him in the biggest market. He’s taken a lot of heat since he was drafted, they didn’t pick up his 5th year, and they signed Tyrod Taylor who many in the media and fans wanted them to start. He’s also extremely tough taking unnecessary hits constantly running for first downs.
I think both Jones and Barkley are keepers. They’ve been down that road so they will be able to help other teammates who are struggling to overcome adversity. The Giants have other areas they should focus on upgrading.
@Bk11235
Bellinger is a good tight end. He’s going to be a big factor with the giants going forward. The online isn’t great but better than in recent years. I agree with you 100% about the receivers.
Out of the current group that’s healthy I’d only like them to bring back hodgins…maybe James under the right circumstances but I feel like some desperate team will give him a multi year contract this off-season with the wr crop being so thin.
Throw money down a pisspoor draft pick black hole
Jones is really a second or third round draft pick, I think a lot of the consternation with him is still tied to his draft position.
He’s playing in a very controlled offense with Barkley carrying it. Lots of short, high percentage throws. I still see him lock onto receivers and get read by the defense. Granted, he’s had a terrible receiving corps, but does anyone see 30 TD, 4500 yard seasons out of him where he’s carrying the offense, even with good receivers?
Tag Barkley, give Jones a 2 or 3 year deal with heavy incentives, and find some receivers while continuing to improve the line.
I will be depressed if both get top tier 5 year deals, that will hamstring the team’s progress.