NFL franchise tag 2023: 10 players most likely to be tagged

3. Top Franchise Tag Candidates – New York Giants QB Daniel Jones

One of the key linchpins to the entire offseason is how the Giants handle their quarterback situation. Few expected Jones to be back after New York declined his fifth-year option prior to the season, but Daboll did a tremendous job coaching Jones and helping him develop significantly in 2022.

Jones was a much more efficient quarterback, cutting down on the turnovers and becoming a more capable leader on offense. Daboll also did a good job taking advantage of Jones’ mobility with designed runs, allowing him to play like a discount version of Josh Allen for the Giants.

The big season has led to Jones switching agents and reportedly demanding $45 million a year from the Giants, a salary that would put him in the top tier of starting quarterbacks. New York is hesitant to pay Jones that much money after watching his inconsistent play over his first three years, which could lead to a standoff that culminates with a franchise tag.

GM Joe Schoen knows that Jones, who is just 25 years old, would get paid by someone on the open market so the franchise tag would certainly be in play if the two sides can’t get a deal done. The non-exclusive tag does come with a $32 million salary, however, which would be an issue for the Giants since it would eat up most of their existing cap space and make it harder to both retain Barkley as well as upgrade the rest of the roster.