The New York Giants face a choice familiar to other rudderless NFL teams in recent years as they ponder the cost of maintaining the status quo at quarterback.
Giants starter Daniel Jones has struggled this season, and the Giants (2-8) suffered their fifth straight loss in Munich, Germany, on Sunday. Their poor performance against the shaky Carolina Panthers (New York was held scoreless in the first half against the league’s worst defense) capped a rough first 10 games.
More from Sportico.com
Now, the team must decide whether to end the Jones era that has resulted in one playoff victory each of the last six years. Giants head coach Brian Daboll is considering benching him, and Jones’ contract could offer justification beyond his play on the field.
Jones currently has an injury guarantee clause in his contract that, if activated, will force the Giants to pay him $23 million next year. He is the last quarterback to experience this type of dance after Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) went through that last year. The Raiders also sat Derek Carr (now with the Saints) two years ago when the playoffs were out of reach to avoid triggering a clause that would have paid him $33 million guaranteed.
“When you can negotiate an injury guarantee into a contract, it should be a feather in your cap, but it can actually be used as a weapon against you, and Daniel Jones is an example of that,” NFL agent Brad Blank said. in an interview. “If he didn’t have an injury guarantee, then maybe they’d just leave him out there.”
No decision has been made on Jones’ future, although his lack of first-team quarterback reps in Tuesday’s practice suggested the team is seriously considering a potential trade for backup Drew Lock. Giants senior vice president and general manager Joe Schoen downplayed the practice structure and told reporters that the language in Jones’ contract will not influence whatever decision is made.
“It will be a football decision,” he said Tuesday. “Any decisions we make as we evaluate the squad and what we do during the last seven games will be football decisions.”
New York benched Jones during a 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on October 20. Daboll continued to support Jones after the Week 7 loss despite the temporary demotion, but his tone has since changed. With his own job on the line, the third-year coach was evasive when asked about Jones in the starting role going forward.
Jones, who has thrown eight touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension last year. There is no more guaranteed money beyond this year, but that would change if he is unable to pass a physical in March after the 2025 league year begins due to an injury suffered this season. It is not uncommon for quarterbacks, usually among the highest-paid players on the team, to have injury provisions in their contracts.
“If a guy is destined to make a lot of money, and he’s not going to make it in the future, then they’ll probably sit him if he has a March bonus coming up,” said John, Roc Nation’s co-head of football and NFL agent. . Thornton said in an interview. “That’s what (injury guarantees) are for, to put a trigger so that if they don’t have plans to bring him back, then the player and the team can get out of this.”
The Giants will absorb $22 million in dead money if they cut him this offseason, an outcome that is becoming increasingly likely, especially with a star-studded 2025 QB draft class.
New York is on a bye week and will look to break the losing streak on Nov. 24 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The best of Sportico.com
Enroll in Sports newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.