Giants owner: 'I'm still glad we gave Daniel Jones that contract'
New York Giants owner John Mara doesn't regret signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a huge four-year, $160-million extension in 2023.
"I'm still glad we gave Daniel Jones that contract," Mara said Thursday, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "He played really well for us in 2022. Let's give him a chance with a better … OL around him and some weapons to see what he can do."
The Giants have been heavily questioned for giving the oft-criticized Jones a deal averaging $40 million per year with $92 million guaranteed. The contract keeps him under contract through the 2026 season but doesn't include any guaranteed salary after 2024.
New York extended Jones after he helped the team reach the divisional round during the 2022 season. The 27-year-old accounted for 22 touchdowns (15 passing) in 16 games that year and posted a career-high 92.5 passer rating. A torn ACL limited him to only six appearances in 2023.
The 2019 No. 6 pick has passed for 20-plus touchdowns only once since entering the NFL; he had 24 TDs as a rookie. The former Duke QB has posted a 64.3% completion rate while averaging 3,545 yards and 18 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions per 17 games played. He's also averaged 542 yards and four scores on the ground with 13 fumbles.
With Jones under center, the Giants own a 22-36-1 record, and their offense has never ranked higher than 15th in total points during a full season. New York went 6-11 in 2023 - its sixth losing campaign in the last seven years. Mara expects an improvement in 2024.
"I obviously want to show significant improvement over last year," Mara said, according to SNY. "But I'm not going to make any specific guarantees or demands or anything like that. But they know what I want to see. I have a lot of confidence in this particular team."
The Giants lost star running back Saquon Barkley in free agency but added high-profile players on both sides of the ball. The club traded for edge rusher Brian Burns in the offseason and used the sixth overall pick to draft receiver Malik Nabers. New York also bolstered its offensive line, bringing in tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and guards Jon Runyan and Aaron Stinnie, among others.