This could be a defining draft for the Giants; if nothing else, it could determine the course of the Joe Schoen–Brian Daboll partnership. The team has done extensive work on quarterbacks. This included “30” visits with Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Jayden Daniels.
Rumors have emerged connecting the Giants to both Maye and McCarthy. These come as the Giants’ party line continues to center around Daniel Jones being on track to be back by training camp and reclaim his starting job. A move up the board for a quarterback would be complicated, as the Vikings — and perhaps to a lesser extent the Broncos and Raiders — have been tied to trying to do the same. A climb up from No. 6 overall also would spell the end of Jones’ run as the team’s starter, as the Giants could get off Jones’ four-year, $160MM deal fairly easily (via a post-June 1 cut) in 2025.
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Internal concerns about Jones exist, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, with the QB’s health history being the team’s main issue. But Schoen said reports of the team having buyer’s remorse on the 2023 contract are “not true.” Then again, it is not like a GM would reveal otherwise a week before a pivotal draft. But Jones’ status as New York’s unquestioned starter is up in the air as the draft approaches.
An expectation around the NFL points to four quarterbacks going in the top four, Raanan adds; that would mark an NFL first. With the Bears tied to Caleb Williams and the Commanders increasingly linked to Daniels at 2, the Giants may need to move up for Maye or McCarthy.
Recent reports indicated Maye is the player more likely of interest to Big Blue, but until the Commanders make it official with Daniels, no trade may be happening. The Patriots have begun discussions about moving down from No. 3, and the Cardinals are open to sliding down from 4. Although rumors about the Giants going QB in Round 1 have circulated for months, nothing is imminent yet.
“I don’t think anyone is ready to move right now,” Schoen said. “I know people are listening. We’ll all do that, from teams behind us or moving up. Those exploratory talks and conversations will happen here shortly. … Those conversations will happen, over the next 42 or 78 hours those will start happening. You’ll get a feel for who is open to moving and who is no.”
Somewhat surprisingly, the Giants’ No. 6 choice has generated a few calls. The Giants not trading up for a quarterback would put them in ideal position to address their longstanding wide receiver need, and the team has hosted the top three in this draft (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze). But Schoen said teams have called to discuss the Giants moving down from 6. With Schoen adding (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) he does not view the Giants as simply one or two players away, the team could consider moving down.
“Surprisingly at 6, we’ve gotten a lot of calls from people behind us,” the third-year GM said. “I didn’t think I would have as much as activity from 6 from people behind me as we’ve gotten. So those are options too as we look at: If we go back, how far back do we want to go?”
The Giants, who have not seen a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018, taking a receiver at 6 could put Jones in the clear. While the 2019 No. 6 overall pick being unchallenged for a job in his sixth year would be a bit odd when considering his resume, the Giants also hosted Bo Nix and Spencer Rattler on pre-draft visits.
That marks five QB meetings out of 30 allotted visits, and a Nix move could potentially come in Round 2. Though, it might take the Giants trading up from No. 47 to acquire the Oregon QB. Rattler is not viewed as a candidate to go in the first round; the Senior Bowl MVP should be expected to be available when the Giants go on the clock in Round 2.
Even one of these passers being chosen would mean a competition — at some point — involving Jones, who will see a $12MM injury guarantee shift to a full guarantee in March 2025. Jones said this week (via Raanan) he has not experienced any setbacks during his ACL recovery and called his 2023 neck injury “just a stinger.” Concerns about Jones’ neck would be valid, as the five-year Giants starter missed much of the 2021 season — ahead of a 2022 surgery — due to a neck injury.
Jones’ future in New York probably hinges on the Giants’ draft moves, but as of now, he is the clear-cut starter ahead of Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito. Jones is doing quarterback drills now, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, and has resumed throwing. Whether he returns to full work as the team’s unquestioned starter once again or is suddenly a lame duck after the Giants select a QB will be one of this year’s defining draft storylines.
Why hasn’t Jersey Mike’s reached out to Tommy DeVito’s team to create a “sub above” commercial where he replaces Danny DeVito?
His agent wanted $2M for it?
Buyer’s Remorse?
I think it is just that the Giants don’t know what the HE double hockey sticks they str doing
Joe Schoen: “We have no buyer remorse because we would have found other bad players to waste money on had Jones not been available”.
Ima be real, I know conventional “professional courtesy” in sports usually involves avoiding saying bad things about your own players, but you’re gonna risk not being hired again as a FO member if you sign off on a statement like this. They’re drafting a QB when their incumbent just was extended. That’s textbook buyers remorse.
Why would he admit to buyer’s remorse about his QB a week before the draft? So teams like Minny, Denver, and Vegas try extra hard to move up to #4? There’s no reason. It’s bluffing season; any reasonable owner wouldn’t hold this statement against him.
Why would the Giants even hire Lock? I seen him play a few years ago with Denver he was terrible. Cocky as well.
Well did you see him play well with Seattle last year? Led them to a comeback win.
Didn’t even know he was on the team actually the Seahawks never impressed me anyway
I look at this two ways. First, Jones got hurt. So in a sense they are remorseful of that. However, if the plan was to draft a QB this whole time, then shame on the Giants for winning meaninglessness games over the Patriots and Washington football team. If drafting a quarterback was the main objective, then they should have never resigned Jones. They should have franchised him and traded him. And traded Barkley if they had no intention to keep him either.
“Then shame on the Giants for winning meaninglessness games over the Patriots and Washington football team.”
Because the players are going to care about the team getting in position to get their replacements…Can’t shame them the players are never tanking they need to put good tape out. Coaches and staffs may want to have “Worse players” play at a key moment, but they can’t make the players not make a play.
I’m well aware of how football works. Shame on the Giants, not the players. Once it became clear they weren’t going to make the playoffs, maybe rest some injured players, keep Divito as QB instead of tyrod. If the refs didn’t screw the Giants, they would have beaten the bills too and ended up with pick 8-12
Not much difference between Tyrod and Divitio…what players were they going to rest? They don’t have an oline, none of the wrs would be #3s on most other teams. They were not bringing Barkley back. Players have incentives to hit, it reflects worse if they were to sit guys that needed to play and get bonus.
Since when do players and coaches play games to lose them just to try and amplify their draft position….players are paid to win as are coaches so while I’m sure there is some gamesmanship in what you say, I find that very disturbing if tanking on purpose in fact actually happens….they resigned Jones at the going rate because other than perpetual backups available, or vets with draft choice attachments, he was the best alternative if in fact he does come back and play well…..remember that fans were very hostile towards Phil Simms based on his injury history and game performance prior to him turning the corner and becoming one of the winningest QB’s, with a SB win in Giants history…..just saying….maybe Jones is the answer maybe not….but winning games is what this team should be all about…..
draft Joe Alt and call it a day. get a WR with the 47th or whatever Seattle’s 2nd rd was.