The New York Giants are embarking on a new era with a new general manager (Joe Schoen) and another new head coach (Brian Daboll).
Both men are on the record stating they are staying with fourth-year quarterback Daniel Jones (for the moment, anyway) but Schoen told reporters on Tuesday that he’s ‘open for business‘ and will explore all options up and down his roster with the exception of wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
The NFL Combine is being held this week and the draft is still seven weeks away but it’s not too early to speculate on whether the Giants will be seeking other solutions at quarterback.
Jones’ first three seasons have been marred by sloppy play, inconsistency and injuries with only a few shining moments to hang his hat on. The new regime is willing to give him a shot to win them over even if they decline his fifth-year option this spring.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. commented recently on whether or not the Giants should ride with Jones or move on at quarterback.
“A hundred percent, I do,” said Kiper, advocating for the Giants to continue forward with Jones. “I’m not one to bail on quarterbacks. I think you have to have patience with quarterbacks; you can’t just kick him to the curb when it’s not his fault.
“If it was his fault, he had everything around him working. The O-line doing their job, Barkley healthy all year running well, receivers healthy and catching the football for a change on a consistent basis — Evan Engram — then you say to Daniel Jones ‘you’re not getting it done.’
“But when Jones has nothing around him happening positively on a consistent basis, how in the heck can you consider him to be a quarterback that ‘we have to cut the ties to?’
“I would stick with Daniel Jones. If everything’s working around him this year, now that he’s more of a veteran now — not a rookie or a young quarterback anymore, stays healthy, he’s worked on the ball security, eliminated that as big problem. . . If everything around him is hitting on all cylinders and he still not getting it done and winning game, then certainly after this year you move on.
“But give Daniel Jones a fighting chance. I don’t think the problem is Daniel Jones. We’ll find out again in a year. You might be telling me next year at this time ‘you’re wrong.’ If I’m wrong, fine, but I would stick with him. I have confidence that Daniel Jones has the ability, the mindset to win football games if he gets a little help on the offensive side of the ball.”
There you have it. The original draftnik has spoken. The Giants appear to agree.
