Tag: New York Giants

Could former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones lose his grip on the Giants’ starting job?

Despite emphatic reports that Daniel Jones will be the New York Giants’ starer in Week 1, there are whispers that backup Drew Lock could be close behind him.

Could former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones be losing his grip on the New York Giants starting quarterback position?

Jones, whom the Giants drafted with the sixth overall pick in 2019 after three years with the Blue Devils, led New York to the playoffs in 2022 and signed a 4-year, $160-million extension after that season.

However, he’s failed to throw 20 touchdown passes in his last three full seasons, and he battled injuries throughout 2023. In just six games last year, he averaged 5.7 yards per attempt and threw two touchdowns against just six interceptions.

The Giants still view Jones as their Week 1 starter, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Barring a setback or injury during camp, Jones will begin the season under center for New York.

However, his leash may be shorter than in years past. The Giants brought journeyman Drew Lock, who started for both Denver and Seattle during his NFL career. Earlier this week, after the NFL draft, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said he thinks Lock has a chance to win the job.

Amid rumors that the team could trade up for a rookie quarterback, Jeremiah said the Giants emphasized that they were comparing the 2024 class to both Jones and Lock in terms of gauging who would improve their team.

Will Jones maintain his grip on the starting job for the entire 2024 season? Duke fans will need to wait until the fall to find out.

NFL executive: Malik Nabers can’t save Giants QB Daniel Jones

One NFL executive scoffed at the idea of Malik Nabers helping New York Giants QB Daniel Jones but others see things differently.

The New York Giants failed to find their new franchise quarterback in last week’s NFL draft and will be forced to continue with Daniel Jones as their starter. For this season, at least.

“Our expectation was Daniel would be our starter and we brought Drew Lock to be his backup and Tommy is a backup, so that’s where we are and that’s how we’ll move forward this season,” general manager Joe Schoen said after the draft. “Daniel is still under contract for three more years. As it sits today, that’s where we are.”

And where they are is hoping that the player they did select with the sixth overall pick last week — LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers — can elevate Jones’ game.

“I don’t think Nabers can save him, not without (Saquon) Barkley,” an NFL executive said, via Mike Sando of The Athletic.

“Malik should help Daniel Jones because he has ability to catch short passes and make big plays,” another executive added.

The Giants attempted to trade up to the second spot, held by Washington, and the third slot, where the New England Patriots were playing hardball. Neither team budged.

“(The Patriots) were not selling, or they were selling at a premium no one was willing to pay,” another executive said. “So do you draft arguably the best run-after-catch player in the draft, or do you take the fourth quarterback and roll the dice? They must feel pretty good about where Daniel is health-wise (after ACL surgery).”

The Giants then decided to play out the string, stay in their place, and take the players they felt would best fit their roster.

“They just sat there and took good players,” a third exec said. “They got better. I thought taking (Andru) Phillips where they got him was early, but it was a reflection of the depth in this draft. You’d like (safety Tyler Nubin) to be faster, but he’s got size, he’s strong, he’s tough, instinctive, can play around the line of scrimmage and has good ball skills to make plays in coverage.”

All in all, the Giants come out of the draft slightly better than where they went in, but with the confidence that they took their swing. hey missed this time, but Schoen made the best of what had.

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Giants’ Daniel Jones focused on what he can control

Daniel Jones is unfazed by the New York Giants attempted to trade up for a QB in the NFL draft: “I’m focused on what I can control.”

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was not insulated from the rumors and speculation leading up to the 2024 NFL draft. He was fully aware that reports suggested general manager Joe Schoen was looking to trade up for a quarterback.

But Jones, very much like Eli Manning before him, doesn’t let that outside noise impact him mentally. It didn’t change his approach or focus, and it won’t change his preparation ahead of the regular season.

“I’m focused on what I can control and that is preparing to play good football,” Jones said, via The Athletic. “So, getting healthy and I’ll be ready to go.”

Jones added that he continues to progress in his recovery from a torn ACL and expectations remain that he’ll be ready for training camp.

“I’m in a good spot. I’ll be ready to go for training camp,” he said.

Entering his third season under head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Jones needs to turn a corner and establish himself as the unquestioned franchise staple.

An improved offensive line and the addition of first-round wide receiver Malik Nabers should help in accomplishing that goal.

“I’m excited,” Jones said of Nabers, via ESPN.

Jones typically gets his teammates together for an unofficial minicamp during the offseason but given his recovery status, it’s unclear if he plans to carry on that annual tradition.

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Saquon Barkley claps back at angry Giants fans: ‘Go Birds!’

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley had some choice words for New York Giants fans after the Knicks bounced the 76ers on Thursday night.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley joined his teammate, wide receiver AJ Brown, courtside at the New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers game on Thursday night.

When cameras caught him cheering on Philly, Giants fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and bashed the team’s former superstar.

After getting wind of the continued hate, Barkley clapped back in a series of tweets.

“It’s been two months,” Barkley wrote. “No way ya can still be this mad! Mother (expletive) can’t even go to a basketball game.”

One fan accused Barkley of “bailing” on the Giants. Once again, the running back was quick to reply.

“Let me educate some of you fans here,” he wrote. “I can’t bail or become a traitor if I never got an offer to come back.. so I went to the organization I felt that was the best and after already being here for a month man I’m excited to be (an) Eagle! Go Birds!”

Although the Giants didn’t counter the Eagles’ free agency offer, they had attempted to re-sign Barkley long-term numerous times, including back in 2022 when he rejected an above-market deal.

Meanwhile, after getting a taste of the Philly crowd, Barkley also expressed his excitement to play at Lincoln Financial Field in 2024.

New Yorkers ultimately got the last laugh, however. Jalen Brunson dropped 41 on the night as the Knicks eliminated the 76ers on their home court.

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3 Giants ranked among top-100 picks of 2024 NFL draft

Three Giants draft picks landed among the top-100 selections in the 2024 NFL draft, according to ESPN.

Three players selected by the New York Giants in last week’s NFL draft — or half of the team’s 2024 draft class — are among ESPN’s top-100 picks considered ‘steals and fits’. 

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, selected sixth overall, was analyst Matt Miller’s fourth-best pick in this year’s draft.

Some will knock the Giants for not drafting a quarterback or offensive tackle at No. 6 overall, but both positions would have been reaches on my board. Instead, the Giants selected my No. 4 overall player in Nabers, who should be the team’s WR1 from the jump. With the explosive receiver on board, the team can fully evaluate Daniel Jones and Drew Lock at quarterback before potentially making a change at the position in the 2025 draft/offseason.

Second-round selection, safety Tyler Nubin of Minnesota, was ranked 56th.

When starter Xavier McKinney left in free agency for the Packers, it was obvious the Giants would target a safety at some point in the draft. Nubin has All-American ball skills (13 career picks) and proved during his college career that he can read the eyes of quarterbacks and then use his range to attack the ball. He’s a classic center-fielder free safety who should top the team’s depth chart in Week 1.

Fourth-round pick, Penn State tight end Theo Johnson, was ranked 69th overall by Miller.

It was very wise of the Giants to grab more options at tight end, and Johnson had flashes on tape throughout his career that would make you think he’s a future NFL starter. If the Giants can coach him up, he could be a steal. He caught seven touchdowns last season.

The team’s other three picks — cornerback Dru Phillips of Kentucky, Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy and UCLA linebacker Darius Muasau — did not make the list.

Ex-NFL GM: Giants’ love for Daniel Jones is ruining the franchise

Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi believes the Giants are ruining the franchise by sticking with Daniel Jones.

The New York Giants went into the 2024 NFL draft with the hopes of coming away with a new franchise quarterback.

After a full-court press to move up in the draft to select UNC’s Drake Maye failed, the Giants then watched other options quickly dissipate and came away empty-handed and are still very much tethered to Daniel Jones for the upcoming season.

There is a possibility they hand the reins to free-agent signing Drew Lock for the interim until they find their new man, but still, they are back to where they left off in 2023.

The Giants appear to be satisfied with moving ahead with what they have in-house and that, says former NFL executive Michael Lombardi, is ruining the franchise.

“I wasn’t surprised at all by that,” Lombardi said on The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. this week. “Because if you listened to what John Mara said at the owners’ meetings… he said very clearly, ‘I’ll favor them drafting a quarterback if they’re in love.’ And he used the word ‘love.'”

General manager Joe Schoen did not appear too satisfied with the status quo. He’ll live with it, for now, but said, ‘this is where we are at’.

“I think they were in love with Drake Maye, but I don’t think they were in love with J.J. McCarthy. And remember, John Mara, the president of the team — he’s the reason why Daniel Jones is making all that money — he loves Daniel Jones. He drafted Daniel Jones as the sixth pick overall. Nothing would make them more happy than Daniel Jones being successful. They’re almost willing it to happen. It won’t, but they’re hoping it will.”

Lombardi says the Giants’ ‘love’ for players is bringing them down. They are forgetting that the logo on the side of the helmet is more important than the names on the back of the jerseys.

“They’ve gone 10 years — they’re the only team in the NFC East that has not won the East in the last 10 years,” he said. “They have the worst record in the last 10 years in the NFC East. It’s a shame, because the Giants should be a stellar franchise in the league. But, because they fall in love with their players, they love their players, they make bad decisions.”

Unfortunate, but true.

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Giants finally get a reprieve from nemesis Boston Scott

The Giants won’t have to face Boston Scott in 2024 after he signed with the Rams in free agency.

Ex-Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams this week. He was a vital cog for the Eagles on special teams and a contributor on offense and will be missed.

One team that will not miss him are the New York Giants, who Scott had tormented during his six seasons in Philly. In ten career games against Big Blue, Scott has rushed for 422 yards and added 222 receiving yards with 10 total touchdowns as a part-time player.

Scott has done minimal damage to the Eagles’ other opponents, with Detroit being the only other team he’s had more than one touchdown against.

Philadelphia signed former Giants RB Saquon Barkley in free agency and drafted Clemson’s Will Shipley to complement Kenneth Gainwell, so Scott was the odd man out.

The Giants do not play the Rams in the regular season this year, so Scott won’t have an opportunity to burn them again.

Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy named one of 2024 NFL draft’s best picks

The New York Giants’ selection of RB Tyrone Tracy in the 2024 NFL draft has been ranked as one of the draft’s best picks.

In the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Giants selected Tyrone Tracy with the 166th overall pick. He first played four years as a wide receiver with the Iowa Hawkeyes before transitioning to running back when he transferred to Purdue University.

Athletic and versatile, Tracy could be the weapon the Giants need in 2024.

ESPN’s Field Yates seems to agree. He recently ranked his top five picks in each round of the draft, and Tracy made the cut for the fifth round. Yates said he considered not just where the players were drafted, but what they bring to the team, their overall value, and how they will fit with their new team, among other things.

Tracy is a fun player to study, as he was a wide receiver for four seasons at Iowa before transferring to Purdue and playing two years as a running back. That versatility could easily lead to early opportunities for the Giants, especially given the team’s thin backfield behind new starter Devin Singletary. Tracy ran for eight TDs last season.

Prior to running for eight touchdowns with Purdue, he recorded just two rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns over five seasons. The transition from receiver to running back wasn’t just a good decision for Purdue, it was a good decision for Tracy’s career.

After playing for two Division I schools, dealing with the transfer portal, and changing positions, Tracy is more than ready to transition to the NFL.

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Report: Daniel Jones, not Drew Lock, will start for Giants in 2024

Clarifying his earlier comments, Mike Garafolo says Daniel Jones will unquestionably start for the New York Giants in 2024, not Drew Lock.

Shortly after the 2024 NFL draft concluded, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who was a long-time New York Giants beat writer, revealed that Drew Lock would be afforded the opportunity to “compete a little bit” with Daniel Jones.

“They have the faith in Daniel Jones to be ready to go in Week 1 and be a full participant in training camp,” Garafolo said. “And by the way, they also do believe that Drew Lock has a chance to compete a little bit and maybe push Daniel Jones. We’ll see.”

Those comments, understandably, took on a life of their own.

Despite general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll adamantly stating that Jones would start in 2024 — something that was even relayed to Lock himself — it opened the door to speculation.

Could Lock really win the starting job out of training camp?

NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah added fuel to that fire, suggesting Lock had a “really good shot” at taking over the starting role in Week 1.

“I believe Drew Lock has a really good shot on winning that job,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said, via Gregg Rosenthal. “They were comparing Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, emphasis on Drew Lock, to the QBs that were going to be there (at the No. 6 pick in the draft) and the line for them was Drake Maye.”

Unfortunately for the anti-DJ crowd, it may be time to pump the brakes on any hope that Lock is going to start coming out of camp.

On Wednesday, Garafolo sought to clarify his earlier comments and made it clear that Jones will be the team’s unquestioned starter so long as he remains healthy and productive.

“If you get into the season and Daniel Jones isn’t playing well then perhaps (Lock) will push him,” Garafolo said. “But I want to be clear about — and what the Giants have been clear about — is that if Daniel Jones is healthy, and they do hope and expect that he’s going to be healthy (by) Week 1, he is going to be the quarterback.”

Garafolo left the door open to Lock taking over if Jones completely bombs out but short of that, the Giants have hitched their wagon to DJ and intend to ride it out with him in 2024.

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Darius Slayton ‘confident’ a contract resolution can be reached with Giants

Wide receiver Darius Slayton says he’s “confident” a contract resolution can be reached with the New York Giants ahead of training camp.

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton remains away from the team as he continues to seek a contract extension.

Despite Slayton’s absence, general manager Joe Schoen was adamant that he would not be traded but also stopped short of suggesting any sort of new deal would be reached.

“These are voluntary workouts. There’s been players since I’ve been here that haven’t been here, and I understand that. I love Darius,” Schoen said before the 2024 NFL draft. “Michael Perrett is his agent. He’s a very good friend of mine. I understand where he’s coming from, and that’s his prerogative to not be here. They are voluntary workouts, so that’s understood.

“We haven’t had conversations about any type of extension.”

Since making those comments, things have apparently changed.

On Wednesday night at the annual Gridiron Gala, where he was being honored for his work within the community, Slayton expressed confidence that he and the Giants would reach an agreement on a new contract.

“Right now, my agent and Joe, they’re in negotiations. They’re talking,” Slayton said, via ESPN. “Hopefully we’ll come to a resolution here soon.

“I don’t think it will get to that point (of missing training camp). Like I said, it’s been good, constant communication throughout the whole process. It’ll be resolved soon.”

Ultimately, Slayton says, he’d like to remain with the Giants long-term.

“I’d like to be here, of course,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time as a Giant and I’d like to remain a Giant. Hopefully, that will be the result of this.”

Slayton was paid a roster bonus of $2.4 million in March and is owed another $2.7 million for the upcoming season.

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