It’s time for the New York Giants to start over, and that starts with head coach Brian Daboll and quarterback Daniel Jones.
After a 20-17 overtime loss in Germany at the hands of Bryce Young‘s Carolina Panthers, the Giants are 2-8.
Now, let’s be clear about something. No one really expected the Giants to be very good this year. They practically waved the white flag in 2024 when they let the game’s best running back, Saquon Barkley, leave for a division rival on a long-term contract in March.
His 2-8 record isn’t so embarrassing when you realize it shouldn’t be unexpected.
Even though he never showed the true, intangible traits of a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback, the Giants decided to extend Jones a four-year, $160 million contract. Everyone on the Internet criticizes Jones for his ineptitude, but that’s what he is as a quarterback. It’s what it’s always been. It’s what it will always be.
But it’s time to move on. He contract has a deadline this offseason and the Giants would be downright stupid not to exercise that clause. They probably do. Remember, they had several quarterbacks in mind in the 2024 NFL Draft class, but ultimately took wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick.
Leaving aside the No. 6 overall pick in 2019, Jones would cost the Giants about $22 million in dead cap space, but it’s not a lot of money as long as the new quarterback remains on his rookie contract. It’s pretty much the way the Denver Broncos have stayed afloat after the Russell Wilson fiasco, which comically is also working for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But Jones isn’t the only player in the Giants’ 2024 crime. Daboll shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the next quarterback. Neither did offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
It’s time for a new beginning with a new quarterback.
Jones has a record of 22-44-1 as a starter for the Giants. Replacing Eli Manning was never going to be easy, but Jones was probably never going to be the right man to do it.
Dynasties in American football are rare. They can’t all be the Green Bay Packers, who constantly spit out franchise quarterbacks. The Steelers have had trouble replacing Ben Roethlisberger since his retirement. After the departure of Tom Brady, the New England Patriots have already selected two different quarterbacks in the first round. These guys don’t exactly grow on trees.
There’s no guarantee the next player will be a success for the Giants, and that goes for both the coach and the quarterback. But it really can’t be much worse than what they have now.
