When New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said he wanted quarterback Daniel Jones to remain with the team long-term, many believed it was just lip service.
No matter how many times Schoen provided completely transparent commentary on DJ, it was dismissed. In the minds of many, there was no way what he was saying was true.
Was this first-time general manager really going to hitch his wagon to Jones, a player many had written off years ago? Was first-time head coach Brian Daboll really okay with that?
The answer to both questions, as proven on Tuesday afternoon, was unequivocally “yes.”
Everything Schoen and Daboll had said was true. They were honest. They were upfront. They were telling the whole world they wanted Jones and Saquon Barkley to remain with the Giants — the latter at the right price.
Jones has now been signed to a four-year deal worth as much as $195 million (with incentives), while Barkley was hit with the franchise tag with hopes that a long-term agreement can still be reached.
Schoen and Daboll chose their cast. They are banking on success with Jones and Barkley and are completely undeterred by the skeptics, doubters, and critics.
But these decisions do carry some risks. Although Jones showed marked improvement in 2022, there is still a lot of work to be done. Schoen must upgrade his supporting cast — both along the offensive line and at the skill positions. Jones needs a wide receiver to help elevate the offense in the same way Stefon Diggs did for the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen.
Then there’s Barkley, who returned to form after several injury-plagued seasons. He seemed to fade a bit down the home stretch but the argument could be made that was due to overuse earlier in the season.
Ultimately, Schoen and Daboll were comfortable with what they saw and confident in the future of both players. Now their respective careers will be defined by those decisions.
