The New York Giants don’t seem to believe that quarterback Daniel Jones is the future of their franchise. This became clear on Thursday when the organization reportedly declined the fifth-year option on Jones’ rookie contract.
Jones, who was the sixth overall pick in 2019, is now set to become a free agent after this season. The Duke product would be scheduled to earn $22.39 million in 2023 on the fifth-year option if it was picked up.
This development doesn’t mean that the Giants have given up on Jones completely. The 24-year-old player is still expected to be a starter for the team in 2022 and will have one year to prove himself under new head coach Brian Daboll. If that turns out to be the case, New York can tie him to a long-term extension or place a franchise tag to keep him around.
The reason why the Giants didn’t want to risk with the fifth-year option is the way similar moves have worked out for other teams in the past. The Cleveland Browns picked up QB Baker Mayfield’s fifth-year option last year, only to move in another direction with a trade for Deshaun Watson this offseason. They are now stuck with Mayfield and his $18.86 million salary, which proved to be an obstacle in their efforts to trade him. The Carolina Panthers find themselves in a similar situation with Sam Darnold.
Daniel Jones had a promising rookie season with the Giants, throwing for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns in 13 games he played. However, he struggled in the following two years and managed only 21 TDs combined.
