NFL News: Giants GM wants QB, top RB back in 2023

Quarterback Daniel Jones could have been under contract with the New York Giants for 2023, but general manager Joe Schoen declined a fifth-year option that sets the stage for contract talks next month.

“We’re happy Daniel’s gonna be here,” Schoen said Monday. “Hopefully, we can get something done with his representatives, and that would be the goal: to build the team around him where he could lead us to win a Super Bowl.”

Jones would have made $22.4 million in 2023 on his fifth-year option, available as a player-retention tool for NFL teams only with first-round picks. Jones was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft and is in line for a massive raise based on market value of starting quarterbacks rising like waterfront real estate.

Jones posted career-highs in completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3,205), with a 15-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Jones also rushed for 708 yards and seven touchdowns.

Head coach Brian Daboll said Monday that Jones has “done everything we’ve asked him to do” this season. Jones said Sunday he’d “love to be here,” but “there’s a business side.”

Schoen and Daboll inherited Jones — drafted by the previous management regime led by GM Dave Gettleman — and running back Saquon Barkley, who is headed for free agency.

Barkley said after the Giants lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional playoffs on Saturday night that he can’t imagine it was his last time in the team’s uniform. Barkley and the team did discuss a contract extension during the 2022 season but Schoen said Monday that the two sides “weren’t really that close.”

The No. 2 overall pick in 2018, Barkley set career-highs in rushing categories with 295 carries for 1,312 yards — both fourth in the NFL — and scored 10 touchdowns. He also caught 38 passes. Barkley played the 2022 season on his fifth-year option, playing in 16 regular-season games for the first time since his rookie season.

“We’re less than 48 hours after that game, so everybody is going to step back, take the emotion out of it,” Schoen said. “Evaluate the roster and then again, we got to operate under a salary cap. How are we going to divvy up? How we’re going to create the roster. What other priority positions and how we are going to move forward. We would like to have Saquon back if it works out.”

–Field Level Media