PHOENIX — In just minutes, the Giants were able to put the finishing touches on a four-year deal with Daniel Jones worth $160 million on March 7.
Earlier in the day, co-owner John Mara reached out to the quarterback, hoping that this last contact would help convince Jones how much he was wanted.
“How much we wanted him here, how much we wanted him to be a Giant, and signing a deal and staying here is the best he can do,” Mara said at the NFL owners’ meeting on Monday. I stressed to him what I felt would be of benefit. has the chance to make this roster a successful team and I hope you will be a part of it.
This message contrasted with what Mara said on January 26, 2022, the day he introduced Joe Shane as the team’s new general manager. The Giants finished his 4-13 season, with Jones missing his final six games with a neck problem.
“Since he got here, we’ve done everything possible to screw this boy up,” Mara said at the time, noting that the head coach and offensive coordinator’s revolving door, shabby offensive line and passing Alluded to questionable weapons to target in the game.
Jones will be back in 2023 with the same head coach (Brian Daball), same offensive coordinator (Mike Kafka), same quarterback coach (Shay Tierney), same starting RB (Squon Barkley) and familiar faces like Darius Slayton and Isiah Hodgins. There are several wide receivers in Two players, Wandale Robinson and Sterling Shepherd, suffered injuries.
The big move in free agency was the acquisition of tight end Darren Waller in a trade with the Raiders. The Giants sent him one of their two picks to Las Vegas in the third round of the 2023 Draft and acquired Waller.
“He’s an offensive weapon,” Shane said. “Who are the weapons available? Where can we find players with dynamic skill sets to help us? Waller is one of the players we found available. Yes, we did some research on him and the value met what we were willing to pay.”
On the Giants’ grading scale, Waller is listed as a “blue” player and is considered a Pro Bowl type player.
Perhaps the Giants will pick the 25th overall pick in the upcoming draft to add to Jones’ arsenal.
“There’s no limit to how high he can climb if you place the pieces around him.”
“I think he showed last year how good a quarterback he is. If we keep improving our roster, there’s no limit to how well he can play.
Signing inside linebacker Bobby Okereke should significantly improve run defense, an area that has plagued Mara during the 2022 season.
“Obviously I feel much better with the team than I did a year ago,” Mara said. “Obviously, our division is much tougher. I think we have the pieces in place to keep improving and ultimately fight for the championship.”