Daniel Jones‘ progress on a return from a November ACL tear has not included 11-on-11 work at the team’s minicamp, but the sixth-year quarterback has long been expected to be back by training camp. When Jones returns, the starting job will be his once again.
Rumblings about Drew Lock potentially challenging Jones for the gig have come up at multiple points during the offseason. Seahawks GM John Schneider was responsible for once such instance, saying the Giants “basically sold him on the opportunity to compete to be the starter.” Brian Daboll became the latest to insist no QB competition will be on tap for training camp, indicating Jones — barring a setback on his nearly complete rehab journey — will be the Giants’ starter for a sixth season.
[RELATED: Daniel Jones Addresses Giants’ Offseason QB Pursuit]
“We’ve talked about that. [Lock] understands his role,” Daboll said (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan) of the team’s Jones-Lock QB depth chart. “He has been a true pro. He has definitely improved since he has gotten here. Good to get two more workdays here with the guys that he might not necessarily get as many reps with once we get to training camp.”
The six-year mark provides an interesting line of demarcation for Giants starting quarterbacks. Kerry Collins and Fran Tarkenton‘s time as New York QB1s stopped after five seasons; Y.A. Tittle‘s tenure stopped at four. Over the past 75 years, Jones will join only Eli Manning, Phil Simms and Charlie Conerly as Big Blue passers to operate as primary starters for at least six seasons. The Giants have not seen a great return on their investment — from either the No. 6 overall pick in 2019 or 2023’s four-year, $160MM extension — but their decision-makers have continued to aim for another Jones opportunity.
A Jones-Lock depth chart appeared to be Plan B for the Giants, who submitted an offer to the Patriots that included Nos. 6 and 47 and the team’s 2025 first-round pick. The Pats cut off both the Giants and Vikings’ Drake Maye interest by drafting the North Carolina passer at No. 3. With next year’s QB class not generating the reviews this one did — albeit at this early juncture — the Giants reside in uncertain territory after passing on the likes of Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. By default, the team’s game plan remains Jones-centric.
Chosen 36 picks after Jones in 2019, Lock signed a one-year deal worth $5MM ($4.95MM guaranteed). Jones’ injury history is believed to have played a role in Lock’s decision to join the Giants, but the ex-Broncos and Seahawks passer does not yet look to have a path to playing time. Jones has missed 21 starts due to injury as a pro. A late-season situation could also come up in which the Giants opt to sit their starter to ensure he can pass a 2025 physical; Jones being unable to do so would put the Giants on the hook for an additional $12MM in injury guarantees for 2025.
Lock has made 23 career starts. The Broncos had hoped he would become a reliable option, but the team demoted him after a 2020 season in which he led the NFL in interceptions. Lock could not beat out Geno Smith for Seattle’s starting gig in 2022. As of now, he is set as New York’s QB2.
Barring a major injury, the Giants can move on from Jones (via a post-June 1 cut) next year and incur only $11.1MM in 2025 dead money. The Maye pursuit certainly points to the team having doubts about Jones’ future, with his injury history playing the lead role on that front. After Jones’ 2022 showing convinced the current Giants regime to buy back in after the team had declined his fifth-year option, the oft-doubted starter is set for another “prove it” season.
Lock has a great chance of seeing playing time. And if he’s looking as good as Jones in his playing time, Lock has a great chance at starting next season if the Giants cut their losses on Jones at the end of 2024.
No he doesn’t ….. I can’t get over how stupid Giants fans are .
What an incredible well thought out comment.
I would agree if Jones gets hurt or doesn’t perform Lock will get his chance to prove himself.
“Lock has a great chance of seeing playing time.”
Only if the Giants are awful for the first half of the season. Then he’ll play to avoid Jones’s injury clause kicking in.
“Lock has a great chance at starting next season”
He has a 0% chance of starting next season. He’s a placeholder in case the Giants want to prevent Jones’s injury clause. If they’re horrible again this year, they’ll draft a QB, trade for a veteran, or sign a FA QB. Lock would have to play like a superstar for the Giants to consider keeping him beyond this year. And we all know he is not capable of that.
Lock is a barely capable backup QB so if he has to come in and start for any stretch of time the Giants season is kaput. Divisional trades are rare but the Giants should have tried to land Sam Howell. He’s a much better backup option than Lock.
Agreed on the first part but as for Howell, I think that would have been a water-treading move. If they’re awful again this year, they need to draft a QB in the first round.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Giants won’t be drafting a QB in the first round next year. They’ll still need a backup that has the potential to be developed into something more (unless they decide to bring Tarkenton out of retirement)…lol.
Its possible that Jones isn’t ready to start the season (I keep reading that he’s going to be ready for training camp despite not participating in anything so far). Setbacks or other injuries happen in camp, especially to injury prone guys. It is very possible that Jones is ineffective for a few games to start the season. Either way, Luck has a chance of starting.
This reminds me some of the Brown/Kanell/Graham era where the Giants had competition for the starting QB role but none of them were much of anything.
If Dak wants $60 million a year he could just play out his current contract and hit the open market next offseason. NYG would love the chance to pay Dak.
I want no part of Dak on my team. Give me Parsons instead please. Giants should have drafted him originally
Well Parsons will not be leaving Dallas anytime soon. Giants should’ve and could’ve done a lot of things different, missing out on Parsons was just one of many mistakes over the past few years.