Since last offseason, football fans have criticized the NY Giants front office and their decision to franchise tag running back Saquon Barkley and give quarterback Daniel Jones a $160 million contract extension. Since then, Barkley has left the organization and joined the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles, and Jones is entering Year 6 with the team.
Jones' first year on his new deal could not have gone worse. He tossed for two touchdowns and six interceptions in only six games. He suffered a torn ACL too, which put the exclamation point on a brutal 2023 for him. It only added to people bashing the G-Men for giving him such a huge contract. If you ask owner John Mara, though, he has zero regrets over the decision and he remains happy the Giants paid Jones. Really?
John Mara: “Listen, I’m still happy we gave (Daniel Jones) that contract … pic.twitter.com/xepU0XmRrJ
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 1, 2024
John Mara has Giants fans talking with his recent Daniel Jones take
"Last year, he got hurt. And let’s be honest: when he was playing, we weren’t blocking anybody. Let’s give him a chance with a better offensive line and some weapons around him to see what he can do."John Mara on Daniel Jones
Although plenty of fans don't have trust in Jones to deliver, the Giants' leadership believes he's ready to go and shouldn't be set back by any previous injuries. Since entering the league, Jones has been with Brian Daboll longer than any other head coach. DJ has an improved offensive line with the additions of Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemenor, and Greg Van Roten, and he finally has a true WR1 in Malik Nabers, but will he capitalize on the added talent? Could Joe Schoen and Mara be onto something?
Seeing how Jones moves this season as he recovers from ACL surgery will be interesting. Danny Dimes should have more time to throw the ball with the upgraded pass-protection unit and will have a prime target in Nabers, but it takes time to build chemistry.
With Jones' injury history and demanding schedule, countless Big Blue supporters are not confident in him to turn things around. Could we end up seeing plenty of Drew Lock in 2024? Hopefully, Jones defies the odds and lives up to his deal (finally), but at this point, it feels quite likely that he will be released in 2025.