EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Daniel Jones signed a $160 million deal 12 months ago, but the New York Giants may still come out of the offseason with their next franchise quarterback.
General manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll brought in former Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson for an “exploratory meeting” this month, though it later came out that Wilson had no guarantee he would start over Jones. And Drew Lock, who the Giants signed in free agency, confirmed he would start the season as a backup.
“Daniel Jones is the starter of this team,” Lock said. “That has been conveyed to me.”
Jones is the starter for now, but the Giants seem to be done building around him.
Multiple sources have told ESPN that Jones’ injury history is what has the team contemplating moving on. The evaluation of the player hasn’t changed all that much in the four games that Jones played from start to finish since signing that lucrative deal.
But Jones now has two neck injuries and a torn ACL in the past three years. That would be risky to build around, especially after the Giants fought until the final minutes in negotiations for the team-friendly structure of the contract. Jones got his $40 million per season; the Giants set it up with an out after two years.
The Giants met with the consensus top six quarterbacks at the NFL scouting combine, according to sources. That includes likely No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
Schoen and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell were even at USC’s Pro Day on Wednesday to watch Williams throw. The Giants also already had UNC’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy in for visits and are expected to have private workouts with most of the top quarterbacks in the coming weeks.
The NFL draft begins on April 25, and the Giants have the No. 6 pick. It seems unlikely the Giants can get Williams or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, no matter the scenario. As of now, there isn’t a willing trade partner among the teams with the top three picks in the draft (Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, respectively), according to sources.
The Minnesota Vikings could be the Giants’ biggest threat for that fourth quarterback, whether it be Maye or McCarthy. The Vikings recently added a second first-round pick in this year’s draft that most in the league believe they are going to use as ammunition to move up and get a quarterback (they own the No. 11 and No. 23 pick).
It’s entirely possible at this point that the Giants get shut out of a quarterback in the top six picks. They may be just fine with that. If free agency did anything, it suggested that a trade back — not up — could now be the most likely outcome.
After trading for standout edge rusher Brian Burns, the Giants are left with just six picks in this year’s draft. Only two teams have fewer. And if Schoen has proven anything in his first two years on the job, it’s that he’s going to be active in the draft.
A move back from No. 6 could allow the Giants to land one of the second-tier quarterbacks (Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr.), while also accumulating more draft capital. Or perhaps a quarterback like Tulane’s Michael Pratt or Spencer Rattler piques their interest.
Drafting a quarterback later in the draft could help them land a wide receiver, as well. The Giants are expected to add a notable wide receiver at some point in the draft (likely in the first two rounds) or via trade. They did little to address the position in free agency, aside from re-signing Isaiah Hodgins and signing Isaiah McKenzie.
“It’s a good quarterback draft. It’s not just at the top,” Schoen said at the combine.
It’s the latest win-now move for the Texans, who are surrounding quarterback C.J. Stroud with veteran talent this offseason.
The Texans traded for running back Joe Mixon last month, acquiring him from the Cincinnati Bengals and then signing him to a three-year, $27 million extension. They also made a splash on the defensive side, signing star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter to a two-year, $49 million contract, including $48 million guaranteed, in free agency.
Diggs, 30, joins a loaded Texans offense that is headlined by Stroud, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and includes Mixon, receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz.
In the 2023 season, Dell was on pace for 1,205 receiving yards before suffering a season-ending injury in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos in Week 13. Dell and Stroud finished with the eighth-most passing yards for a first-year quarterback and wide receiver duo (709). Collins ranked eighth in receiving yards (1,297) and had eight touchdowns
Last month, the Texans tried to trade for Keenan Allen and offered a Day 2 pick from the 2025 draft. The Los Angeles Chargers instead sent Allen to the Chicago Bears, but it was a sign the Texans were eager to improve their receiver core to help Stroud in his second season.
The Bills, meanwhile, have moved on from several veterans this offseason. Buffalo released cornerstone defensive players Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer and starting center Mitch Morse in salary cap moves. In addition, receiver Gabriel Davis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.
Leave a Reply