NFL: Giants agree to $160 million contract with QB Daniel Jones; Ravens use franchise tag on Jackson

by Jacob Fuller

Rob Issa, FISM News

Daniel Jones is the latest NFL quarterback to get a huge contract.

The New York Giants agreed to give Jones a four-year deal ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for teams to give franchise tags. The new contract is reportedly worth $160 million, including $35 million in additional incentives, $82 million over the first two years, and a first-year cap number of $19 million.

Jones became the ninth quarterback to break the $40 million-per-year mark.

Jones, the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 draft, had a breakout season after the Giants declined to pick up his fifth-year option before the 2022 season. He led the Giants to a 9-7-1 record and their first playoff appearance since 2016. Playing under first-year coach Brian Daboll, Jones threw for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also set a quarterback franchise record with 708 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

The Giants also placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on star running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley finished with career-high totals of 295 carries for 1,312 yards — the NFL’s fourth-highest total — and scored 10 touchdowns. He also caught 57 passes for 338 yards and finished seventh in the NFL with 1,650 scrimmage yards.

If Barkley and the Giants don’t agree to a long-term contract, he would make $10.091 million in 2023.

RAVENS USE FRANCHISE TAG ON JACKSON

The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson couldn’t agree on a contract, so the team placed a nonexclusive franchise tag on the 2019 NFL MVP.

The Ravens and their star quarterback can continue negotiating but the nonexclusive tag means he can sign an offer sheet with another team. The Ravens would have a chance to match any deal between Jackson and another team. If they choose not to match, they would receive two first-round draft picks from that team. If Jackson plays this season on the franchise tag, he would make $32.4 million. The Ravens could again use the tag on him next season.

“There have been many instances across the league and in Baltimore when a player has been designated with the franchise tag and signed a long-term deal that same year,” general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement.

We will continue to negotiate in good faith with Lamar, and we are hopeful that we can strike a long-term deal that is fair to both Lamar and the Ravens. Our ultimate goal is to build a championship team with Lamar Jackson leading the way for many years to come.

Jackson’s contract negotiations with Baltimore have become a drawn-out saga that began last offseason. Jackson doesn’t have an agent and he’s looking for a contract similar to the one Cleveland gave Deshaun Watson last year. The Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million, five-year deal. The 25-year-old Jackson is one of six quarterbacks in NFL history with 10,000 yards passing and 4,000 rushing. He has rushed for 100 yards 12 times, an NFL record by a QB.

THE NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TAG

Four players besides Jackson and Barkley got franchise tags ahead of the deadline, including Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard. The Jacksonville Jaguars placed the tag on tight end Evan Engram and Washington Commanders put it on defensive tackle Darron Payne.

A nonexclusive franchise tender is a one-year contract worth the average of the five largest salaries for players at the position the previous season.

SAINTS SIGN CARR; SEATTLE SIGNS SMITH

Jones’ deal with the Giants comes a day after the New Orleans Saints agreed to a contract with Derek Carr and the Seattle Seahawks gave Geno Smith a new deal. Carr, a free agent after being released by the Raiders, got to a four-year contract with the Saints that reportedly is worth $150 million with $100 million in total guarantees. Smith received a three-year deal that is reportedly worth $105 million, including $52 million in the first year.

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