Daniel Jones’ injury guarantee complicates Giants’ QB situation further

The New York Giants are navigating uncertain waters as questions swirl around Daniel Jones’ role as quarterback. The ongoing discussions about his future become particularly significant as they face an opponent on Sunday whose quarterback they once considered trading up to draft.

This past offseason, during a segment on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll evaluated the skills of one of the top prospects in the 2024 draft class, Jayden Daniels from LSU, who won the Heisman Trophy.

Schoen posed the question to Daboll, asking if he had seen enough to warrant a trade up for Daniels. Daboll responded affirmatively, showing their interest in the talented young quarterback.

However, the Giants were unable to move up high enough in the draft, as the Washington Commanders held the second overall pick and selected the quarterback they believe to be their future on Sunday.

Compounding these uncertainties is Jones’ looming injury guarantee of $23 million for 2025, which could become fully guaranteed if he sustains an injury and fails a physical in the offseason. Recent NFL history shows that teams have opted to bench quarterbacks to avoid triggering similar injury guarantees.

Last season, for example, the Denver Broncos made the decision to bench Russell Wilson, seeking to circumvent a potential injury that could lead to a $37 million guarantee for 2024. In the offseason, Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are set to play the Broncos this weekend.

The Las Vegas Raiders also made a similar move last season, opting to bench Jimmy Garoppolo to avoid an injury that could guarantee an additional $11.25 million due this season. That year, the Colts chose to bench Matt Ryan in October, reducing the risk of owing the veteran quarterback a $7.5 million roster bonus that would come into play in March 2023.

Later in the year, the Raiders made headlines again by benching Derek Carr to potentially sidestep guaranteeing a $32.9 million salary for 2023 and a further $7.5 million for 2024 if he were to sustain a serious injury.

While the Giants have not yet reached a critical junction regarding Jones, the quarterback’s performance will play a significant role in the future decisions of the organization. With just two touchdown passes recorded in his last eight games, there is growing pressure for Jones to improve his performance behind center.

Jones notably struggled in the Giants’ opening game of the season, which ended in a disappointing 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In that game, he threw two interceptions and completed only 52.4% of his pass attempts. Since signing a hefty four-year, $160 million contract, the Giants have only managed a 1-6 record over the seven games led by Jones.

Despite the rocky start to the season, Daboll has offered his support for Jones as the team’s starting quarterback. In a recent media appearance, Jones expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, “[my] mental toughness is in a good spot” and emphasized his optimism about executing effectively in the upcoming game.

The decisions made by the Giants in the coming weeks will undoubtedly be shaped by Jones’ performance, as they weigh their options amid his precarious situation. As the season unfolds, the pressure will intensify on Jones to prove that he is worth the investment the Giants made in him.

Source: ESPN