As Daniel Jones continues to rehab from a torn ACL after struggling through this season, the New York Giants are keeping an eye on the draft for potential alternatives at quarterback in 2024.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, the Giants are a team to “keep an eye” on possibly trading up in the first round to draft a signal-caller.
Jones will be entering the second season of his four-year, $160 million contract that was signed in March 2023.
He threw for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in six games before tearing his ACLin a Week 9 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
There is a path for the Giants to potentially move on from Jones this offseason, though it would come at a significant cost to their 2024 salary cap.
If they designated him as a post-June 1 cut, he would have a $47.1 million dead cap charge.
It’s not the best use of resources for a Giants team that has several roster holes to fill and currently projected to have $26.8 million in cap space.
If they wait until after next season to move on from Jones, they will save $30.5 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut.
General manager Joe Schoen told reporters in November, a few days after Jones had knee surgery, their “expectation” is the 26-year-old will be their starter when he is healthy.
Of course, Schoen also said they “won’t shy away” from taking someone at any position if they are the best player available.
He declined to specifically say if they would target a quarterback.
The Giants currently own the No. 6 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Rapoport reported the Chicago Bears need a “historical haul” to trade out of the top spot, while the Washington Commanders at No. 2 will “look into” moving up and the New England Patriots at No. 3 are doing research on the top quarterbacks.
All three teams seem likely to draft a quarterback, which leaves the Giants in a precarious position.
They need a long-term answer at the position, but giving up the amount of draft capital it would presumably require to move up at least three spots may not be the best investment for a team that needs help along at offensive line, wide receiver and running back if Saquon Barkley leaves as a free agent.
That doesn’t even account for the roster needs New York has on the defensive side of the ball.
There will be good quarterback prospects, like Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix and J.J. McCarthy, available later in the first round and potentially into the second round.
