Daniel Jones is the franchise quarterback of the New York Giants, or at least that's what you've been sold leading into the 2022 NFL offseason. There's never been a time when owner John Mara hasn't publicly backed his former first-round pick, but there are signs that -- at least privately -- the mask might be cracking. With the insertion of Brian Daboll as head coach and Joe Schoen as general manager, the coming season becomes the most pivotal for Jones, who belongs to the previous regime, as far as draft picks go. And with at least one eye on the future, the Giants might be plotting for a 2023 move at quarterback.
To that end, they're reportedly open to trading one of their 2022 first-round picks in exchange for one in 2023, per SNY, with Schoen not completely sold on this year's crop of quarterbacks but having come to terms with the reality Jones might not be the answer. As it stands, the Giants own both the fifth- and seventh-overall pick in this year's draft, and that's premium real estate for any team who feels the top prospect on their board may not make it out of the top-10.
Schoen is seemingly hoping to pounce on that need, passing on selecting a QB in the process and content to see what the waters bear in 2022, a year that will also feature newly-signed backup Tyrod Taylor as possible competition for Jones as starter. The Giants have yet to pick up the fifth-year option on Jones and, if they do, it will cost them roughly $22.38 million in 2023 -- a number that becomes difficult to swallow when considering there are still question marks on his ability to lead the franchise for the next half-decade or more.
They have until May 2 to make that decision.
Schoen wants to see Jones in action before rubber stamping him like former general manager Dave Gettleman and former head coach Joe Judge so passionately did, and rightfully so, considering whatever decision he makes at QB in the next year or two will likely define his career in New York -- as is usually the case in the QB-GM dynamic around the league. If the fifth-year option is declined on Jones, he'll enter a contract year in 2022 and be forced to apply pressure to the Giants to make one of three decisions when 2023 rolls around: franchise tag him, sign him to a long-term deal or wave goodbye and use a first-round pick on his replacement.
