Yes, Daniel Jones noticed that the Giants seemed interested in selecting a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft. He’d signed a big deal last year and now the team was looking around for his replacement.
“I mean, I wasn’t fired up about it,” Jones told reporters at a Giants media availability this week.
But New York, which owned pick No. 6, went with dazzling LSU wide out Malik Nabers instead of a quarterback. The Giants reportedly wanted North Carolina’s Drake Maye, if he’d been available. However, the Patriots grabbed him with the third pick. But the Giants didn’t want to use the sixth pick on Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr or Oregon’s Bo Nix. All three of those quarterbacks then were off the board by pick 12.
So Jones still lives on as Giants quarterback of the present. Is he the future? Injuries may define that. He’s rehabbing from ACL surgery, but is able to do some things in practice. The Giants started phase three of OTAs this past week. And Jones was able to participate in 7-on-7 drills with the receivers and running backs.
“Just getting back in the swing of things and playing football against the defense,” Jones said. “Thought it was good. … The rehab process has been smooth up to this point, and (it) feels good doing all that kind of stuff.”
It’s unclear whether the Giants can be better on offense than they were last season. They lost Saquon Barkley to the Eagles in free agency. But they did sign four offensive linemen as they attempt to rebuild the unit. The Giants allowed a league-high 85 sacks last season. For context, the Panthers and Commanders tied for second in sacks allowed. Each team was 20 behind New York.
It’s no wonder that Jones appeared so injury prone. He injured his neck in week five and missed three games. Once he returned, Jones tore his ACL. This was all after the Giants signed him to a new, four-year contract worth $160 million.
But the Giants did create a quarterback Plan B. They signed Drew Lock, the former Missouri star who was a second rounder from 2019. He started games with both the Broncos and Seahawks. Plus, Tommy DeVito still is around. As a rookie last season, DeVito rose to cult status with his six starts to end the season.
Still, Plan A is a healthy Jones. The Giants are easing him back.
“He looks good,” said NY coach Brian Daboll. “We’re not putting him in some team stuff (during OTAs), but he’s making progress so that’s why we got him in 7-on-7.”
Daboll added: “we’ll take it day by day and when he can do more, we’ll put him in more.”
