The New York Giants officially announced Friday that they are acquiring former first-round pick Daniel Jones, once considered the franchise quarterback at MetLife Stadium.

A few hours after the Giants officially released Jones, former New York star Saquon Barkley — now an MVP candidate with the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles — weighed in on the news surrounding his former teammate.

“I’ve been in contact with him. Our friendship has remained strong throughout the entire process of me being in Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters at the Eagles’ practice facility on Friday. “It sucks to see how everything turned out for him there. I only have good things to say about him; you won’t find anyone who can say negative things about him.”

“It’s the NFL. Hopefully, wherever he ends up, they’ll get a guy to come work. It didn’t work for me (with the Giants), and I’m doing fine here (in Philadelphia). Hopefully he can get the same new start and find the same success.”

Barkley and Jones spent five seasons together from 2019 to ’23 after the quarterback was selected with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL draft. The Giants put together just one winning season in that span with a 9-7-1 record in 2022, which culminated in a wild card win over the Minnesota Vikings and ended with a blowout loss to the Eagles in the divisional round.

Jones will now hit waivers and is unlikely to be claimed due to his massive four-year, $160 million contract he signed in 2023. Once he clears waivers as expected, the 27-year-old will be free to sign with any team.

Barkley, meanwhile, will continue to prepare for the Eagles’ Week 12 showdown with the Los Angeles Rams. Sunday night football.