In the lead-up to the NFL Draft, the spotlight has primarily been on the quarterbacks expected to be selected early on. While the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans are projected to address their quarterback needs at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, other teams are eager to move up and secure their preferred signal-caller. One such team is the New York Giants. General manager Joe Schoen has expressed interest in acquiring a quarterback, despite previously indicating that the team could explore other options. The Giants currently hold the No. 6 overall pick and would likely need to trade up to land Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy if they are available at No. 3 or No. 4. However, Giants ownership could be reluctant to make such a move after the team’s recent investment in Jones. As Diana Russini reports, “It was explained to me that that was just a really tough sell to ownership after giving Daniel Jones that contract last year that we’re going to now give up assets to replace a quarterback that we’re paying $40 million.” The Giants are burdened by Jones’ hefty contract, which includes cap hits of $47.9 million in 2024 and $41.6 million in 2025. Releasing Jones after this season would save $19.4 million in 2025, while designating him as a post-June 1 release next year would free up $30.5 million. Acquiring a rookie quarterback on a more affordable contract would allow the Giants to bolster their roster in other areas. Despite the potential benefits, ownership’s reluctance may hinder any moves in that direction. Earlier this offseason, owner John Mara expressed confidence in Jones, stating, “I still have a lot of confidence in Daniel. I think the Daniel that we saw in 2022 is the real deal.” However, Mara also indicated that he would support a trade up if the front office strongly believed in a particular quarterback prospect. The Giants are clearly in the market for a quarterback, but the extent to which they are willing to commit to that pursuit remains uncertain. With several other key needs to address, the team faces a complex decision-making process as they navigate the upcoming draft.
Giants’ Quarterback Dilemma: Trading Up or Doubling Down?
