The New York Giants are bargain-bin shopping in this year’s free agency period. With little salary cap space available, New York is not in a position to spend big this year. But there are still opportunities to bolster their roster in free agency. One way that the Giants could improve their roster is through the quarterback position. Daniel Jones is slated to be the starter this year for the fourth season in a row. However, Jones has missed games with injuries in each of his first three seasons. Investing in the backup quarterback position is of high importance and priority for GM Joe Schoen and the Giants this year.
The Giants missed out on the Mitchell Trubisky sweepstakes today. The 2017 second overall draft pick is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers to succeed Ben Roethlisberger. Trubisky opted to head to Pittsburgh for an opportunity to be a starter instead of competing for starting reps with Daniel Jones in New York.
New York Giants in the quarterback market
The Giants’ situation might not have made sense for Money Mitch, but it will make sense for other quarterback talents on the open market. According to Jordan Raanan, the New York Giants are “in the market for a mobile veteran free agent quarterback.” With Trubisky off the table, some of their options now include the likes of Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, Case Keenum, and Jacoby Brissett.
It seems likely that the Giants will target these signal-callers with the intention of finding a stable backup for Daniel Jones. In 2021, Daniel Jones missed the final six games of the season with a neck injury. This left New York in a tricky situation with backup Mike Glennon taking over as the starter. Glennon struggled severely in the starting role and highlighted how important it will be for the Giants to invest in the backup position this offseason.
Marcus Mariota and Tyrod Taylor are particularly intriguing options. They are mobile veterans with starting playoff experience. The Giants do not have much cap space to work with. However, some inevitable trades and transactions will be made to clear some space. Expect to see the New York Giants free up some cap space and invest in a quality second-string quarterback soon.
What does this mean for Daniel Jones?
Investing in the backup quarterback position is necessary for the Giants due to Daniel Jones’s injury history. However, there could be an ulterior motive. Players like Marcus Mariota and Jacoby Brissett would not only provide stability in case of injuries, but they would also provide Daniel Jones with a competition.
Daniel Jones is the Giants’ current starter. But Jones has yet to establish himself as the long-term answer for New York at the sport’s most valuable position. Bringing in a veteran to compete for starting reps could push Daniel Jones to work harder. Competition brings out the best in athletes, and that’s what the Giants are hoping to accomplish with a quarterback competition this summer.