New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is facing a harsh reality as concerns about his durability loom large in the NFL. With the possibility of the team drafting a replacement, the quarterback’s future as a starter hangs in the balance.
“He’d basically be done as a starter. The Giants have always liked him better than everyone else. And with his injury history, no one’s going to gamble on him. No one’s going to want to invest their future in him,” an NFL executive told FOX Sports, citing Jones’ injury history as a major red flag.
Jones only participated in six games in the 2023 season. His decision to return to the field in Week 9, following consecutive absences, ended in further adversity. The signal-caller suffered an ACL tear in a lopsided defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders. The QB recorded 909 passing yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions before the injury.
The prospect of Jones transitioning to a backup role may not seem unreasonable. Promising quarterbacks like Justin Fields found themselves relegated to backup positions. Former Steelers QB1 Kenny Pickett also joined the Philadelphia Eagles as Jalen Hurts’ understudy.
What can be the Giants next move regarding Daniel Jones?
The Giants may use their No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to find Daniel Jones’ replacement. The team owner, John Mara, has his support for Jones, but there’s speculation that the Giants could draft his potential successor, according to Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports.
“Mara’s idea to draft a rookie, keep Jones and let them both compete”, Vacchiano wrote.
This move could spark a quarterback controversy unlike any seen before on the team. Mara’s notion of drafting a rookie to compete with Jones sets the stage for a short-term competition.
However, the ultimate goal would likely be to transition to the rookie as the unquestioned starter by 2025. Cutting Jones next March would signal a significant shift in the Giants’ quarterback strategy. The team invested heavily in Jones, indicating they saw him as their long-term solution at the spot. They signed him to a massive, four-year, $160 million contract last offseason.
If the Giants opt for a new franchise quarterback, they would need to navigate the complexities of cap management and fulfill promises made during Jones’ contract negotiations. What do you think will be a feasible solution for the franchise? Let us know in the comments section.
