The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jones’ new deal with Giants likely raises standard for QBS
Daniel Jones turned one decent season into a megamoney contract that raises the standard in the NFL.
Once the New York Giants gave Jones a deal worth $160 million over four years — $82 million is reportedly guaranteed for the first two seasons — the price tag went up for quarterbacks around the league. Way up.
If Jones can join Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and six others in the $40 million-per-year club after a breakout season in which he threw just 15 touchdown passes and ran for seven more, how much money will more accomplished QBS get paid?
Before last season, the Giants declined to give Jones his fifth-year option at $22.3 million. Now, they’re paying him like a superstar after he helped lead them to a 9-7-1 record and their first playoff appearance since 2016.
But Jones was essentially a game manager who protected the football. His best performance came in a playoff win at Minnesota that was followed by a dud in a season-ending loss at Philadelphia.
Only Aaron Rodgers has an average annual salary of $50 million per year. Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow should be next considering what Jones got from the Giants.
Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, received a nonexclusive franchise tag from the Baltimore Ravens so he’ll make $32.4 million this season — a bargain compared to Jones — if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal. He doesn’t have an agent who could’ve already finished what’s become a drawn-out process.
Jackson can negotiate with other teams when free agency begins next week. The Ravens can match his best offer or they could take two first-round draft picks in return.
Jackson, who turned 26 in January, is 45-16 in four seasons with the Ravens. He’s 1-3 in the playoffs but already is one of six quarterbacks in NFL history with 10,000 yards passing and 4,000 rushing.
Hurts is eligible for a contract extension this offseason after leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl. He was runner-up to Patrick Mahomes for AP NFL MVP and was a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 35 touchdowns, throwing for 3,701 yards and running for 760.
In Philadelphia’s 38-35 loss to Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Hurts had one of the best all-around games ever seen on football’s biggest stage. He completed 71% of his passes for 304 yards and one TD, and ran for 70 yards and three scores.
A reasonable starting point for his contract negotiations would be Kyler Murray’s deal — $230.5 million over five years.
Burrow is also eligible for a contract extension this offseason. He led the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second season in 2021. Burrow has averaged 4,543 yards passing and 35 TDS over the past two years.
Of course, guaranteed money is the most important part of any NFL contract. Former Gainesville High School star Deshaun Watson got $230 million fully guaranteed over five years from the Cleveland Browns last year. No doubt Jackson wants at least the same, which has led to a stalemate in discussions.