Giants Pay Daniel Jones $88M; Cousins to Steelers?

Giants Lock Up Daniel Jones with $88 Million Deal, Sparking Debate

In a move that has sent ripples through the NFL landscape, the New York Giants have reportedly agreed to a two-year, $88 million contract extension for quarterback Daniel Jones, with at least $50 million guaranteed. The deal, which keeps Jones in New York through the 2025 season, has ignited a fierce debate among analysts about whether the signal-caller has truly earned such a lucrative payday.

Dominique Foxworth, while acknowledging the Giants’ seemingly limited options, believes the extension is a logical, albeit not entirely convincing, step. “I believe it. I I can’t go with the full Jeff Saturday believe it because I don’t believe it that hard. But I do believe that they they’re in a situation. They passed on a number of available quarterbacks. They’re stuck,” Foxworth stated. “I don’t think you play with your quarterback on a tag franchise or or um transition or otherwise. I think you pay him if he’s going to be your starter. He’s going to be their starter despite coming off injuries.”

Jones, who has amassed $172 million in career earnings, including the new extension, has managed to win just one playoff game. This fact has led to sharp criticism from figures like Chris Madall Russo, who expressed incredulity at the $50 million per year valuation. “He hasn’t earned this. This is ridiculous. MOST OF YOUR QUARTERBACKS WHO MAKE THE HUGE MONEY, MAHOMES, ALLEN, STAFFORD, AT LEAST YOU THEY’RE GREAT. LAMAR, AT LEAST THEY’RE GREAT. BURROW, AT LEAST THEY’RE GREAT QUARTERBACKS. I MEAN, $50 MILLION TO DANIEL JONES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ME THAT THAT’S A LITTLE THAT’S CRAZY,” Madall Russo exclaimed.

However, others argue that the contract structure and the Giants’ commitment to Jones as their starter justify the move. “When you see Daniel Jones getting paid an amount of money that like we we talked about like what um the salary caps $300 million and also he they have decided that he is going to be their starting quarterback. You know what you pay starting quarterbacks that money,” one analyst countered. “I could understand an argument saying that maybe he shouldn’t be our starting quarterback but you don’t play with your quarterback on a tag.”

The argument for the extension also centers on the offensive success the Giants experienced with Jones at the helm for the first half of last season. “This is a plan they made in January, like when they decided to bring back the coach and the GM. Like, like this worked for eight games, nine games, whatever it was. It worked at an incredibly high level. Let’s try and get that back and do that again,” an analyst explained. “They feel like they have a a proof of concept on an offense that that was the the best or one of the best in the league over the first half of last season and that they can get that back.”

While acknowledging the early-season success, some point to a late-season slump and lingering concerns about Jones’ consistency. “The thing that makes this a good deal is it’s basically a one-year deal. Right. This isn’t something that you’ve tied yourself to Daniel Jones for future years in this deal,” an analyst noted, highlighting the contract’s flexibility. “And for Daniel Jones, it’s an opportunity to go prove that you deserve this money and reup in the next year.” The sentiment of owing Jones something for playing through injury, including a broken leg that may have contributed to his Achilles tear, also resonated.

Steelers Eye Kirk Cousins Amid Quarterback Uncertainty

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a familiar quarterback quandary. With Ben Roethlisberger retired and uncertainty surrounding their current options, the possibility of signing veteran Kirk Cousins has emerged as a potential solution, though not without controversy.

Ryan Clark argued against pursuing a quick fix, advocating for a strategic approach to rebuild the quarterback position. “The Steelers should play with whatever quarterback makes them the worst. Huh? If that’s if that’s Will Howard, go out there and play with Will Howard. If that’s Kurt Cousins, go out there and play with Kurt Cousins. What you don’t want to do is go get Aaron Rogers and win eight, nine, ten games again, right? At some point, they got to get out of quarterback purgatory,” Clark asserted. He emphasized the need to either commit to developing a young quarterback or acquire a true franchise signal-caller, rather than settling for mediocrity.

The discussion also touched upon the historical context of the Steelers’ quarterback situation, including their inability to draft a successor to Ben Roethlisberger in a strong draft class. The idea of playing with a young prospect like Will Howard, while potentially leading to a worse record in the short term, could position them for a higher draft pick to secure a future franchise quarterback.

Bears Outshine Packers in Offseason Improvement Debate

In the ongoing battle for NFC North supremacy, the Chicago Bears appear to have made more significant strides this offseason than their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers, according to several analysts.

Giants Earn a Solid ‘B+’ for Free Agency Moves

The New York Giants received a strong grade of ‘B+’ for their early free agency acquisitions. The signing of Isaiah Likely was highlighted as a key move, providing a dynamic weapon to pair with Jackson Dart. Greg Nuome’s addition on defense and Patrick Ricard’s underrated signing, forming a physical backfield with Cam Scataboo, were also praised.

Bears Garner a ‘B’ for Strategic Signings

The Bears earned a ‘B’ grade, with analysts noting the acquisition of Kobe Bryant to replace Kevin Bard and the signing of Devin Bush, who revitalized his career in Cleveland. The strategic decision to trade DJ Moore was also seen as a positive, suggesting a belief that the team did not need him as a primary receiver and could potentially pursue a major pass-rushing acquisition like Max Crosby or Trey Hendrickson.

Packers Receive a ‘B’, but Bears Show More Momentum

While the Green Bay Packers received a ‘B’ grade, with additions like Jonathan Ganon as defensive coordinator and players like Javon Hard Graves and Benjamin St. Juice bolstering the defense, the overall sentiment leans towards Chicago’s greater improvement. The addition of captain and All-Pro Zia Franklin was seen as a significant boost, especially with Michael Parsons healthy.

However, when directly comparing the two teams’ offseason trajectories, the Bears emerged as the more improved squad. “If I’m looking for a team that’s improved more, you saw how much they improved over the course of the season. That was the first year in a new offense. With a second year quarterback, you expect them to get better,” one analyst stated. The continuity on the offensive side with Ben Johnson returning as offensive coordinator was also cited as a key advantage for Chicago over Green Bay, which lost its defensive coordinator.

The evolution of Chicago’s quarterback, Caleb Williams, was a major talking point. Despite inconsistent moments, his ability to perform in crucial situations was lauded. “Another year with Ben Johnson, another offseason under his toutelage, and I think we can see MVP caliber play from Caleb,” one commentator predicted. The observation that Williams’ completion percentage was last in the league (32nd) was also noted as an area where significant improvement is expected.

A point of contention arose regarding the Bears’ financial flexibility for major acquisitions. Despite speculation about their potential pursuit of a star pass rusher like Max Crosby, it was suggested that the Bears are currently financially constrained. “The Bears don’t have any more money right now, Greeny. They’re broke. They’re out of money,” one analyst stated, dampening hopes for a blockbuster trade.

Source: Daniel Jones OVERPAID? 🤑 Kirk Cousins 👉 Steelers? Bears IMPROVED MORE than Packers ⁉️ | Get Up (YouTube)