From Ryen Russillo (@ryenarussillo):
Ryen, yes, there’s been one—Blake Bortles. The Jaguars picked up his option for 2018 and then signed him to a three-year extension for $54 million.
Here’s the list of other first-round quarterbacks who’ve had their fifth-year option declined since the current rookie-contract system went into place with the 2011 CBA: Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert (declined by the 49ers, not the Jaguars, after a trade), Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel, Teddy Bridgewater, Mitchell Trubisky and, yes, Daniel Jones (Brandon Weeden, Josh Rosen, Johnny Manziel and Paxton Lynch were all cut before decisions on options).
On top of that, only Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Sam Darnold (and he’d already been traded to another team) have actually played out fifth-year options among quarterbacks from that time frame. It only reinforces that, in almost every case, teams know what they’ve got after three or so years, which is why Year 3 is so critical for guys drafted in the first round at that position. How the Dolphins built around Tua Tagovailoa this year is a great example of that.
Anyway, so the question’s a good one in that, a year ago, it looked like Jones’s time as Giants quarterback was up when his fifth-year option was declined. And yet the real tell had come months earlier with owner John Mara’s comment on the situation at new GM Joe Schoen’s introductory press conference. “We do feel Daniel can play,” Mara said. “We’ve done everything possible to screw this kid up.”
Long story short, the Giants gave Jones a chance, and Jones took advantage of it. And now, New York will either have to tag Jones at, in all likelihood, around $33 million (far more than the $22.38 million option number they could’ve had him) or win him back over his other options on the open market. Remember, Jones is still just 25. He’s 6'5", 221 pounds with plenty of arm strength and athleticism, and 53 regular-season starts under his belt—and now this playoff run, plus all the lessons learned from playing for three coaches.
The Giants will make a bid to keep him. But because of all that’s transpired and this unprecedented situation he’s in—as such a high pick who’s actually playing well and is set to hit the market—he’s in a really good situation heading into March, regardless of what happens Saturday night in Philadelphia or thereafter.
