The Giants season is all but over, as only three games remain. So, let’s start looking at some hard questions this team needs to answer. For the ninth time in the last eleven years, the sentiment is the same regarding the New York Giants regular season: let’s just end it already and get to the draft. That’s what a 5-9 record that includes a deflating loss to the New Orleans Saints that all but ended any sliver of hope that the Giants might make a late-season run. And although the Giants, believe it or not, are still mathematically alive for a postseason berth, the reality is that it’s time to start thinking about next year, even though three games remain on the schedule. In this series, we will look at different glaring franchise-shaping questions facing the Giants over the off-season and determine what makes the most sense. Check back regularly for a new topic.
Question No. 1: What’s the Future at Quarterback?
It’s rather interesting that head coach Brian Daboll, when asked about injured starter Daniel Jones, immediately shut the door on any potential controversy as to whether Jones, who regressed in his limited snaps this year, would be the starter next year once healthy. (And yet Daqboll, when asked if tackle Evan Neal would return to the starting lineup once he was healthy enough from an ankle injury, wouldn’t answer the question.)
The truth is that the Giants have some serious decisions to make about the quarterback position. Jones’s recovery timeline could have him back as soon as next year’s training camp or the start of the season. And if it’s the latter where he has to miss training camp only to return for the start of the season, does it make sense to play him for a full game, especially if the game plan involves RPOs?
These are all answers to be determined, but let’s back up and look at what we believe is likely to happen.
Who’s No. 2?
It seems obvious that the team will move on from Tyrod Taylor, who had been the No. 2 quarterback and who will be an unrestricted free agent this year. Taylor was “Wally Pipped” by Tommy DeVito, whom Daboll said will get the start on Christmas Day against the Eagles.
Beyond that, it likely makes no sense to start Taylor again, as the Giants are locked into seeing what they have in DeVito to determine if he can be the No. 2 guy moving forward.
Even if DeVito stays healthy and performs decently, that doesn’t make him a lock for the No. 2 quarterback spot.
If the Giants finish in the top 10- currently seventh per Tankathon- and get within striking distance of landing a franchise quarterback, it would be hard to envision Schoen and Daboll passing on that opportunity to get a guy that better fits what they want.
Let’s say the Giants do add a quarterback in the first round. They could have that kid sit behind Jones (assuming Jones is healthy enough to start the season) much like the Chiefs did years ago with Patrick Mahomes sitting for a year behind Alex Smith.
That might be the prudent way to go, especially as this team still needs its offensive line to be fixed again.
Where would that leave DeVito? He could still be the No. 2 to start, but remember that the Giants have never carried three quarterbacks on the active roster under Daboll. If they draft a quarterback on Day 1 or Day 2, there’s little chance that quarterback goes to the practice squad, which means that DeVito could end up being the odd man out.
And if that’s the case, could the Giants try to swing a trade, similar to what the Patriots did years ago when they sent Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers, if DeVito keeps progressing?
What About No. 1?
Daboll has never been about playing one guy over another due to contracts or draft status, and although it might look like that’s what he’d be doing if he started Daniel Jones next year, the truth might be a little different.
Specifically, if the Giants draft a quarterback, Jones, who cannot be cut next year due to the huge hit the team would take on the cap, could serve as a bridge until a draft pick is ready.
This, remember, was supposed to have been the plan back in 2019 when the Giants had Eli Manning and his $19 million base salary on the roster. The plan went out the window when then-head coach Pat Shurmur wanted to move to the more mobile Jones to open up the playbook, so the Giants ended up having an expensive backup quarterback, making starters money playing behind a rookie on a cheaper deal
We could see a similar situation next year if the Giants draft a rookie quarterback on Day 1 or Day 2. As previously noted, they could have him sit for the entire year as Mahomes did behind Smith, or they could roll the newcomer in when he’s ready and send Jones to the bench.
Do The Giants Need to Draft a Quarterback on Day 1?
Many fans will say, “Yes!” but this is a deep quarterback class where a potential starter could be found as late as Day 2. Remember, a top-10 draft pick doesn’t always translate into a future All-Pro player–there are enough busts that pop up among Top-10 quarterbacks just as there are success stories.
But here’s the problem the Giants got themselves into. When ownership swept out Joe Judge and Dave Gettleman, technically, the quarterback should have been part of that sweep. Schoen and Daboll, however, came in willing to give Jones, the holdover from the previous general manager regime, another chance, though they didn’t pick up Jones’s option year.
When he performed well in his contract year, that pushed the Giants so far down the draft order that, at least according to their board, no quarterback was offering enticing value to take at No. 25. So the Giants ended up re-signing Jones to a multi-year deal which, remember, has an escape hatch after two years, a sure sign that they might not have been 100 percent sold on Jones as the future of the franchise
So What’s the Answer?
Schoen has already acknowledged that the team must address the quarterback position in some way, shape, or form. While there is optimism about Jones making a complete recovery and being ready for the start of next year, it’s far too early to lock that in as an act, and the Giants will need to protect against that not being the case .
The question that the brass must answer is if they believe they can move forward successfully with Jones. He’s had five seasons in which he’s been injured in four, and yes, he’s had to deal with different coordinators and systems.
However, if we’re looking at his most recent body of work in this current system, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Jones took a step back in his comfort level and his ability to make the plays that he made last year and question if he can ever take the next step forward in this offense.
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