The New York Giants spent much of their offseason contemplating their plans for the future at quarterback. They did extensive pre-draft scouting on the class’s top quarterback prospects as they considered drafting the successor to quarterback Daniel Jones.
Despite signing Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason, the Giants have already begun moving on to a new talent under center. Jones suffered a torn ACL last season, adding onto an extensive injury history that seemingly has the organization thinking twice about their long-term investments.
Jones spoke with the media on Thursday morning, finally speaking out on the team’s search for a new quarterback this offseason.
Daniel Jones shares his thoughts on the Giants pursuing a top quarterback in the draft
The media finally got to ask Jones his thoughts on the Giants’ pursuit of a rookie quarterback this offseason. In typical fashion, he didn’t say much, but he did emphasize that the rumors were not pleasing to the ear:
“I wasn’t fired up about it,” Jones told the media (h/t SNY). “But… it’s part of it at this level, like I’ve said. What I can do is focus on myself, getting healthy, playing the best football I can play, and that I know I’m capable of playing. That’s my job and that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Jones has been participating in practice during the first few days of the Giants’ OTAs (organized training activities), exhibiting that he is far along in his recovery process. He expects to be fully cleared for the start of training camp which kicks off at the end of July.
Jones has plenty to prove entering the 2024 season
Confidence in Jones has dwindled after a disappointing 2023 campaign that was cut short by the aforementioned ACL injury in November. He’s appeared near the bottom of the list in nearly every outlet’s rankings of the league’s starting quarterbacks despite ranking near the top of the list for the league’s highest-paid players.
In 2023, Jones made six starts, going 1-5, and compiling 909 passing yards with just two touchdowns and six interceptions. He also added 206 yards and one touchdown rushing, but how much production he will be able to provide with his legs in 2024 coming off of a knee injury remains a mystery.
Jones has looked sharp, however, throughout the start of training camp according to all reports. Ryan Dunleavy of The New York Post said that he heard “nothing but rave reviews” and that Jones has been “throwing with accuracy and velocity.”
It will be a decisive, make-or-break 2024 season for Jones as he aims to keep the team from continuing their search for a new quarterback next offseason. The Giants can take an out in Jones’s contract next offseason so, unless he bounces back and performs at a high level this year, he could find himself on the chopping block at the end of the season.