Daniel Jones’ much-ridiculed $160M contract might be a Giant bargain

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East Reporter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — John Mara insisted last week that he’s “still happy” the New York Giants signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract last March. Sometimes it seems like he’s the only one.

He really shouldn’t be alone on that, though. That contract, which was ridiculed as too rich for a quarterback like Jones almost from the moment it was signed, hasn’t turned out to be the albatross many expected it would be. In fact, it has turned into something else for the Giants:

A bargain.

Laugh if you want, but that is the way the much-maligned contract looks just 16 months after Jones signed it. Maybe it wasn’t at the time, when a quarterback with just one good season was given one of the richest contracts in football. But thanks to a run of new contracts among NFL starting quarterbacks, Jones’ $40 million per year average is only tied for 14th most at his position. And it’ll drop a notch lower as soon as Dak Prescott gets his new deal that will surely be worth about $60 million per year.

There are now eight quarterbacks making more than $50 million per year. That list includes Trevor Lawrence, who got a five-year, $275 million deal from the Jaguars after throwing for just 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season despite his career record of 20-30. And it includes Jordan Love, who got a four-year, $220 million extension from the Packers after his first season as a starter.

In fairness to them, Jones’ best season — 2022 when he threw for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions while running for 708 yards and seven touchdowns — pales in comparison to their best years. And Jones can’t possibly be compared to most of other top-paid quarterbacks on the list.

But that’s the point. He doesn’t really have to be, because he’s not paid like an elite quarterback. He’s now paid far more like Derek Carr ($37.5 million per year) than Joe Burrow ($55…


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Publish date : 2024-08-06 21:09:51

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