Giants’ Jones lands $160M deal; Saquon gets tag

The New York Giants have agreed to a four-year, $160 million deal with quarterback Daniel Jones, sources told ESPN, and have used their nonexclusive franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley.

The Giants made the moves just ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline for NFL teams to use their franchise and transition tags.

Jones will make $82 million guaranteed at signing as part of the deal, which also includes up to $35 million in incentives, sources told ESPN’S Jordan Raanan. Barkley will make make $10.091 million in 2023 under the nonexclusive franchise tender.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen had publicly stated that the team hoped to retain both players, which was made possible by the long-term deal for Jones.

Jones, who turns 26 in May, is coming off the most efficient season of his career and led the Giants to a winning record for the first time since being drafted in the first round in 2019. He also played brilliantly in leading New York to a postseason victory over Minnesota, setting the stage for nearly two months of contract negotiations.

Jones passed for 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions last season while also rushing for another 708 yards and seven touchdowns.

wants a fully guaranteed deal like the one given to Deshaun Watson last year by the Cleveland Browns. Baltimore is against doing so because the team considers the Watson deal an outlier.

The Ravens used the nonexclusive tag on Jackson, meaning he can engage in contract talks with other teams. If Jackson signs an offer sheet with another team, Baltimore has the right to match the offer to keep him or take two first-round picks as compensation. The nonexclusive tag -- which will pay Jackson $32 million this season -- is less expensive than the exclusive one (projected at $45 million), which would have allowed the Ravens to control his rights this year. in a trade, however.

Rodgers still has not made any announcements about what he intends to do this coming season. It’s still possible he decides to retire or to stay in Green Bay. But if he still wants to play and he and the Packers agree it’s time for him to play somewhere else, the Jets appear to be a realistic option.

If the Jets are speaking directly with Rodgers, they and he would have had to secure the Packers’ permission, as he is still under contract with Green Bay. So, the discussions Rodgers is having with the Jets indicate at least some openness on the part of the Packers to the idea of trading him there.