NFL Analyst Makes Bold $40 Million Prediction for Former Giants Star

Daniel Jones has been a bit of an NFL vagabond since being released by the New York Giants last November, but the former No. 6 overall pick might have the chance to earn some long-term security this season.

After finishing out last season with the Minnesota Vikings, Jones inked a one-year contract worth $14 million with the Indianapolis Colts, where he’s currently locked in one of the most hotly contested quarterback battles across the NFL this summer.

However, if Jones is able to beat out Anthony Richardson during training camp and has a resurgent 2025 season, Fox Sports NFL analyst Henry McKenna believes there’s a chance the 28-year-old quarterback could sign a $40 million contract next offseason.

“I think there’s a real shot Jones could be angling for $40 million annually at this time next year,” McKenna writes of Jones. “Would the Colts really pay him that?”

Jones wouldn’t be the first veteran quarterback, chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft, to experience a late-career renaissance after a change of scenery.

If the former No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft is able to beat out Richardson and has a strong season for the Colts, it is entirely plausible that Jones follows in the footsteps of Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, and others, who turned their careers around and reached a lucrative payday as a result.

Should Jones win the starting job and have a season similar to Darnold’s 2024 campaign or Mayfield’s breakthrough 2023 season, the former Giants starter will likely be among the most coveted quarterbacks on the market next spring. But, as McKenna admits, whether it winds up being the Colts who make Jones one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the sport remains to be seen.

First things first, Jones must hold off Richardson and win the starting job before any of these expensive hypotheticals come into play.

Theo Johnson Emerging as Giants’ Breakout Candidate

Elsa | Getty ImagesSecond-year tight end Theo Johnson is a breakout star to watch for the New York Giants in 2025.

The Giants’ are hoping that the offense can be significantly more explosive in 2025 than it was last season, and there might be a breakout candidate about to emerge in quarterback Russell Wilson‘s supporting cast.

Theo Johnson enters 2025 aiming to build on a 331-yard and one touchdown rookie campaign and emerge not just as the Giants’ top tight end but one of Wilson’s favorite targets, especially given the space he may have to operate in as defenses pay extra respect to Malik Nabers‘ field-stretching ability.

Following a strong spring, and fast start to training camp, Giants head coach Brian Daboll is impressed by the former Penn State standout and 2024 fourth-round draft choice.

“Theo is a guy that is a tireless worker,” Daboll told reporters. “He’s very smart for a young player, has tremendous size and athletic ability, catch radius, can block at the point of attack so both in the run game and the pass game. That’s hard to do or hard to find nowadays, particularly coming out of colleges. (He’s) coming off that injury, so continue to work on that, but I like Theo and I think he’ll be a good player for us.”

For Johnson to become the player Daboll believes he has the potential to be this season, the 6-foot-6 and 265-pound tight end will look to build on a strong finish to his season, catching 18 passes over his final five games before suffering a season-ending lisfranc injury.

“I felt like I was starting to hit my stride a little bit,” Johnson told reporters on Friday. “Everything was starting to come together, so it made it a little frustrating when the season came to an end, when it did, but I want to continue to build off that and grow this year.”

Cam Skattebo Could Make Instant Impact for Giants

Ishika Samant | Getty ImagesRookie running back Cam Skattebo could be primed to make an instant impact for the New York Giants.

The Giants may have added a massive upgrade on offense, that has been flying just under the radar but might not be for much longer.

After selecting Cam Skattebo in the fourth round of this spring’s NFL Draft, all indications pointed to the Arizona State standout complementing Tyrone Tracy in a revamped Giants backfield.

However, Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Beckett Mesko predicts the rookie could become New York’s lead dog sooner, rather than later.

“The Giants leaned on a committee in 2024,” Mesko writes for PFF. “Splitting carries between Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. Neither back reached 1,000 rushing yards, and both earned PFF rushing grades in the 60s — solid, but not great.

“In comes Cam Skattebo, who led the Big 12 in nearly every major rushing category in 2024. He posted a 94.6 PFF rushing grade, 1,712 rushing yards, 103 missed tackles forced and 1,202 yards after contact. He added value as a receiver, too, earning a 79.8 PFF receiving grade on 44 receptions for 543 yards. His all-around skill set was on full display in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, where he racked up 143 rushing yards, 111 yards after contact, two rushing touchdowns and even a passing touchdown against Texas.”

Skattebo has been one of the Giants’ standouts during this spring’s OTA and training camp practices, and as the intensity of training camp is about to pick up as the pads go on and the preseason approaches, the 5-foot-11 and 216 pound back could be a player to watch to not just carve out a role but steal a starting job in the weeks ahead.