Reports suggest that the Giants might be seriously considering drafting a quarterback, specifically Drake Maye.
This move has pushed the future of Daniel Jones, the team’s current quarterback, into uncertain territory.
If the Giants get a quarterback tonight, what will they do with Daniel Jones? https://t.co/H2YGDDKcWp
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 25, 2024
An interesting twist to this situation is that Jones was offered a contract last year that guaranteed his salary for the first two years.
With Jones possessing a full $35.5 million guaranteed salary for 2024, the Giants could explore options to retain him, though it may not seem economically viable for them.
One way the Giants could manage this situation is to trade Jones. However, that would involve the willingness to pay a considerable part of his salary, a tactic demonstrated by the Jets in balancing their $5.5 million obligation to Zach Wilson with the Broncos.
The decision to pay a speculated $17.75 million in trading Jones, as opposed to bearing a $35.5 million cost for him to sit on the bench, seems reasonable at this juncture.
Assuming they don’t trade Jones, the equation would comprise Jones, newly signed Drew Lock, and potentially Drake Maye.
Questions arise as to whether Jones would still be the Giants’ QB1, or if he would just be meant to hold the fort until Maye is ready.
The uncertainty surrounding Jones’s future adds more to the already chaotic state of the Giants. Since winning Super Bowl XLVI, the team’s performance has dipped significantly, with them securing just 76 regular-season wins since 2012 – the fourth lowest in the NFL.
Central to the Giants’ strategy would be deciding on Jones’s relevance and role in the 2024 season if a new quarterback is brought onboard.
Could he shift from the leading position to more of a supporting role, or will the Giants make a call to trade him seeking a balanced solution to the financial conundrum?
