The New York Giants have a big quarterback problem to solve involving Daniel Jones.
After Jones struggled mightily against the Houston Texans on Saturday, it made you wonder about the possibility that the Giants could move on from the quarterback before the season started.
There is a hypothetical path for the team to shed Jones’ massive contract, which would require the Giants scrambling to find a new quarterback since neither Drew Lock nor Tommy DeVito inspire a ton of confidence to make a real playoff push.
It’s definitely late in the game for the Giants to find a starting quarterback for 2024, but there are options out there. Let’s go over them.
Tom Brady
Oh yes. Ohhhhhh yes. Brady, who hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2022 season, recently joked about making a comeback… and there, quite literally, isn’t a more juicy landing spot for the future Hall of Famer than the franchise that beat him in two different Super Bowls. New York has a solid offensive line, plenty of enticing receivers and a defense that looks ready to roll. Would Brady actually do this if the opportunity arose? It’s hard to know exactly, as he’s set to start broadcasting with Fox Sports this fall. However, the thought of winning a ring with the team he could never beat on the biggest stage is the kind of NFL fan fiction that you could actually see becoming reality.*
*We know this isn’t likely, but boy, it’s fun to think about.
Ryan Tannehill
A much more realistic option for New York is Tannehill, the best free agent available at the position (who isn’t Brady). Tannehill struggled with injury during his last season with the Tennessee Titans before the franchise threw the keys to quarterback Will Levis, but we imagine he’s still got enough gas left in the tank to elevate the position for New York. He’d need time to get used to the offense, but this would actually make a ton of sense is change is coming for the Giants. Tannehill could maybe get you into a Wild Card spot.
Andy Dalton
Dalton is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL with lots of experience under his belt, but he just is who he is at this point. For a team like New York, he’d maybe represent a more steady hand to lead the offense and a veteran who could command respect in the locker room. He’s probably good enough to be a middling starter, which might be better than where Jones is right now. The Carolina Panthers might not want to move him, but you could see it if the Giants want a veteran with experience in a pinch.
Jacoby Brissett
If the New England Patriots decide to start rookie quarterback Drake Maye this fall, it’s entirely possible that Brissett would want a starting opportunity. New York may well provide one if the team is done with Jones. He’s been one of the best backups in the NFL over the last couple of years, and you could see Giants coach Brian Daboll scheming up a solid offense for Brissett’s skillset after what Daboll did with Josh Allen with the Buffalo Bills. It’d require a trade to make it work, and one New York could most definitely pull off with the picks it has. It’s an intriguing possibility.
Joe Flacco
Flacco remains a wily veteran quarterback at age 39, coming off a season where he earned the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year honor after leading the Cleveland Browns to the AFC playoffs. If Flacco still has some of that 2023 magic left, the Giants should seriously consider flipping a pick to the Indianapolis Colts to make him their starter. His age is definitely a concern, but watching what he did with the Browns last year leaves you intrigued.
