Eli Manning urges Giants’ Daniel Jones on long-term deal: ‘Hope he gets rewarded’

Legendary Giants quarterback Eli Manning spent some time watching Daniel Jones guide his former team this season, and apparently he liked what he saw.

Jones had the best season of his four-year NFL career under freshman head coach Brian Daboll, leading Manning to encourage the franchise to sign the 25-year-old for a long-term contract extension.

“I was proud of Daniel the way he played, that he learned another offense and picked it up,” Manning told ESPN on Tuesday.

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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning speaks to the media on December 30, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(AP Photo/Tom Canavan)

The Giants finished that season with a 9-6-1 record and Manning credited Jones with leading the team to victories late in the games.

“Like the way he played in the fourth quarter of a few games and led the team back to victory which was great; that’s what you want from your quarterback. Competing as fast as they could with brand new offense, making it to the playoffs, winning a playoff game, that’s great.

“I hope he gets rewarded for that. I hope he’s the Giants quarterback for a long time.”

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The Giants have expressed an interest in keeping Jones, but it’s unclear if the team will choose to use the franchise tag or negotiate a multi-year contract extension.

“We’re excited to have Daniel here,” general manager Joe Schoen said last week. “Hopefully we can achieve something with his representatives. That would be the goal, to build a team around him that he could lead us to winning a Super Bowl with.”

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones runs with the ball against the Eagles in the divisional playoff game Saturday, January 21, 2023 in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Earlier this week, teams learned that next season’s salary cap will be set at a record $224.8 million. A contract extension for Jones would certainly have an impact on the Giants’ salary cap.

The franchise also has to make a decision about star running back Saquon Barkley, who will be a free agent this offseason.

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Jones has also publicly expressed an interest in staying in New York.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here and I want to be here,” he said last week. “I think there’s a business side to everything and a lot of that I can’t control. I have love and respect for this organization and this property and the guys in this dressing room.

“So I’d like to be here. I’ve really enjoyed being here and we’ll see how it all develops.”

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones during the Indianapolis Colts game on January 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Manning was on hand during the Giants’ divisional round blowout loss to the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

But the playoff loss didn’t seem to shake Manning’s or the team’s faith in Jones. But Manning admitted it will be difficult for him to gain a foothold for Philadelphia in next week’s Super Bowl.

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“It’s tough. It’s tough in the sense that I usually fire for the NFC in most Super Bowls that we’re not in. It’s hard to fire for the Eagles,” Manning said. “There’s so much hate over the years. No hate, just the rivalry going against them.”