New York Giants owner John Mara expressed no regrets about the decision to sign quarterback Daniel Jones to a significant 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 faced substantial criticism for awarding Jones a contract averaging $40 million per year with $92 million guaranteed. The contract, which extends through the 2026 season, includes no guaranteed salary beyond 2024.
Jones received the extension after guiding the team to the divisional round in the 2022 season. The 27-year-old quarterback recorded 22 touchdowns (15 passing) over 16 games that year and achieved a career-high 92.5 passer rating. However, a torn ACL limited Jones to only six games in 2023.
Selected as the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft, Jones has surpassed 20 touchdown passes only once, with 24 TDs in his rookie season. Throughout his career, he has maintained a 64.3% completion rate, averaging 3,545 yards and 18 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions per 17 games played. Additionally, Jones has averaged 542 rushing yards and four touchdowns per season, with 13 fumbles.
Under Jones’ leadership, the Giants hold a 22-36-1 record, and their offense has not ranked higher than 15th in total points during a full season. In 2023, New York finished with a 6-11 record, marking their sixth losing season in the past seven years. Mara anticipates better performance 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 running back Saquon Barkley in free agency but acquired notable players on both offense and defense. They traded for edge rusher Brian Burns during the offseason and used the sixth overall draft pick to select receiver Malik Nabers. The team also strengthened its offensive line by adding tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and guards Jon Runyan and Aaron Stinnie.
