New York Giants GM Joe Schoen was frank in discussing the decision on Saquon Barkley’s franchise tag in a revealing moment from Hard Knocks. Schoen pointed out the financial constraints of Daniel Jones’ contract, stating, “You’re paying the guy $40 million. It’s not to hand the ball off to a $12 million back.”
Barkley would have earned $12.1 million under the franchise tag for 2024 if the Giants had opted to retain him. Despite tagging Barkley last year, the Giants ultimately signed him to a one-year deal for up to $11 million after failing to agree on a long-term extension.
The Giants’ ability to tag Barkley last year was due to finalizing a four-year, $160 million deal with Jones. At the time, there was speculation about potentially tagging Jones instead of Barkley following a strong 2022 season that boosted his market value.
However, Jones’ performance in 2023 quickly turned sour after signing the contract, with just 909 passing yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions in six starts before tearing his ACL in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Subsequently, Barkley departed the Giants and signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowler is slated to face his former team twice in the upcoming season, with the first matchup scheduled for Week 7 at MetLife Stadium.
Looking ahead to 2024, Jones is poised to reclaim his role as the Giants’ starting quarterback, although speculation persists about Drew Lock potentially challenging for the QB1 spot.
Schoen emphasized on the show that 2024 is a pivotal year for Jones, stating, “This is the year for Daniel. The plan was always to give him a couple of years. Is he our guy for the next decade, or do we need to pivot and find someone else?”
With the franchise’s hopes riding heavily on Jones’ performance, another disappointing season could put both Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll under pressure.