Saquon Barkley‘s first game against the Giants turned out to be a comfortable Eagles victory. During the fourth quarter of the lopsided contest, New York elected to replace Daniel Jones with Drew Lock at quarterback. A permanent change at the position is not under consideration, however. 
“I made a change in the fourth quarter when it was 28-3, had about 100 yards, just to create a spark,” head coach Brian Daboll said when speaking to the media after the game (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “Daniel will be the quarterback going forward. But obviously we didn’t do enough offensively.”
Jones completed 14 of 21 passes for 99 scoreless yards on Sunday, adding 20 yards on five rushes. He avoided any turnovers, but as a whole New York’s offense (which will be without left tackle Andrew Thomas for the rest of the season) continued to struggle. The team has managed only one touchdown in four home contests this year, further indication that Jones will not develop as hoped in 2024. For now, at least, the former No. 6 pick is safe atop the depth chart.
“The score didn’t get out of hand,” Daboll added. “I felt we had some chances there to make some plays, just didn’t make them, wasn’t going to take him out then. It’s all the way around, not just quarterback — coaching, everything just wasn’t good enough.”
Of course, Jones’ four-year, $160MM pact has been a major talking point since it was signed. Retaining the 27-year-old was coupled with the decision to tag Barkley last offseason; the latter departed in free agency after talks on a new Giants pact were unsuccessful. Jones’ $40MM AAV has been surpassed by several recent quarterback mega-deals, but it would be a stretch to say he has lived up to expectations so far. Questions loomed about his post-2024 future ahead of the campaign, one in which the Giants now sit at 2-5.
Jones’ contract includes a $23MM injury guarantee for next season, leading to speculation New York could bench him at some point during the year and ensure he remains healthy. If that were to take place, Lock would handle QB1 duties before a serious push to add at the quarterback spot during the offseason. The Giants aggressively pursued a move up the draft board in April to land one of the draft’s top passers, a sign of how they view Jones’ upside. Doing the same in 2025 would come as no surprise at this point, but for the time being Jones will continue operating as the team’s starter.
I’ve ragged Dan plenty here, but that OL was awful.
Terrible. Amazing what it turns into without Thomas. Prior to this game the Oline actually looked competent.
Cameron Ward incoming lol
Is it time for Tommy Cutlets yet?
It’s almost time for Paulie Walnuts.
Wholesale changes for the Giants before next season starts. Schoen, Daboll and Jones are all dead men walking.
Back the Brinks truck up to Ray Handley’s house and bring him out of retirement.
*Owner Jon Mara not allowing Giants to bench Jones
No Thomas means no more season. Time to tank
They don’t have much around him. Watch Jones be like Darnold in one of his next stops.