General manager Joe Schoen and the New York Giants have a potentially franchise-altering decision to make in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coming off an ugly six-win season, New York boasts the sixth overall pick in the annual event. There are needs all over the field on the offensive side of the ball. That includes running back and wide receiver.
Rumors have also persisted that the Giants are seriously looking at going quarterback with that selection. In fact, they have been linked to trade-up scenarios with the New England Patriots at No. 3 overall and Arizona Cardinals at four.
The primary reason for this is Daniel Jones’ continued struggles with injuries coupled with his inability to progress into a franchise-type quarterback. It’s not an ideal scenario given that the Giants are less than 12 months removed from handing Jones a four-year, $160 million contract.
What will Schoen do with the sixth selection? Will the Giants provide us a surprise to end all surprises? Well, we have a bit more information on this with two weeks to go ahead of the draft.
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New York Giants’ concern over Daniel Jones’ health could force them to draft a QB
Jones, 26, is coming off a 2023 campaign that he saw end due to a torn ACL six games in. The former top-10 pick from Duke has also dealt with multiple neck injuries during his relatively short five-year run in Jersey.
This is cause for alarm when it comes to the Giants’ brass.
“His (Daniel Jones) health is a real concern, according to multiple sources,” Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reported. “Two neck injuries in three years are bad enough. But now he’s recovering from a torn ACL that will almost certainly sideline him until training camp and might keep him out at the start of the season.”
The Giants signed veteran Drew Lock in NFL free agency as immediate insurance in case Jones is not able to go for the start of the 2024 NFL season. But that does not come close to solving the long-term issue.
In addition to Jones’ injury problems, he has not displayed an ability to be a franchise quarterback since New York selected him back in 2019.
- Daniel Jones career stats: 64.3% completion, 12,512 yards, 62 TD, 40 INT
Prior to going down with that aforementioned ACL injury, Jones recorded two touchdowns and six interceptions in six starts this past season. That’s obviously not going to cut it.
The backdrop here is an owner in John Mara who has given Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll the green light to add a quarterback near the top of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it’s worth pick No. 6 or moving up, I certainly would support that. I know they’re looking at the quarterbacks. You’ve seen that.
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“They’ve gone to some of the pro day, we’ve had some of those guys in. I don’t think they’re even close to making a final determination yet as to which way we’re going to go on that. Those discussions will happen over the next few weeks.”
Mara on New York Giants draft plans
Selecting at six, the Giants are in a bit of a precarious position when it comes to adding a quarterback. The first three picks in this year’s draft are likely to be signal callers with the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots looking to go in that direction.
Given the rise of Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, teams are scrambling to move up to No. 4 with the Arizona Cardinals for a signal caller.
After Caleb Williams lands with the Chicago Bears at one, there is a darn good chance that Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and McCarthy are the next three picks. Though not necessarily in that order, this could force the Giants to move up from six to either three or four for a quarterback.
If this were to happen, it would create one heck of a quarterback dynamic in Jersey heading into the 2024 season. After all, Jones’ contract guarantees he’ll be around next season.