Giants' Bold Move to Sign Josh Jacobs; What Went Wrong?

Josh Jacobs , now with the Green Bay Packers, has shed light on a surprising move by the New York Giants this offseason. According to Jacobs, the Giants offered him the highest financial package in free agency, a revelation that challenges the prevailing narrative about the team’s reluctance to invest heavily in a running back.

Jacobs shared this news with The Athletic, where he explained that while he eventually signed a four-year, $48 million contract with $12.5 million guaranteed with the Packers, the Giants had come forward with an even more substantial offer.

Dan Pompei of The Athletic reports that the Giants’ proposal was between $3 million and $4 million more than the deal Jacobs ultimately accepted. However, Jacobs cited concerns over New York taxes, lifestyle, media scrutiny, and the artificial turf at MetLife Stadium as reasons for turning down the Giants' offer, despite the attractive financial terms.

This unexpected move by the Giants contrasts sharply with their handling of former star running back Saquon Barkley , who left to sign a three-year, $37.75 million contract with $26.5 million guaranteed with the Philadelphia Eagles. While it remains unclear whether the Giants were willing to exceed the total $48 million value of Jacobs’ contract or just the guaranteed portion, the fact that they were prepared to spend significantly on Jacobs—yet refrained from matching Barkley’s deal—raises questions about their strategy.

Instead, the Giants opted for a more conservative approach by signing veteran running back Devin Singletary to a two-year, $16.5 million contract with $9.5 million guaranteed. This decision came despite the apparent willingness to make a more considerable investment in Jacobs, a 26-year-old who is one year younger than Barkley.

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Jacobs' comments provide a fresh perspective on the Giants’ free agency decisions, suggesting that GM Joe Schoen may not be as opposed to high-priced deals for running backs as previously thought. With this revelation, Giants fans are left to wonder what might have been if Jacobs had chosen New York over Green Bay and how this potential shift in strategy will impact future moves by the franchise.