3 Major decisions NY Giants absolutely must get right this offseason

What to do about Daniel Jones’ future

The 2021 NY Giants season’s success or failure was always going to be measured by whether the organization could finally, after signing Kenny Golladay and drafting Kadarius Toney in the first-round, make a true evaluation of whether Daniel Jones is the franchise’s long-term answer at quarterback.

After Jones suffered a neck injury that held him out nearly a quarter of the season — and some of the year’s biggest games, it’s difficult not to call this season an abject disaster for the NY Giants.

To date, Jones has completed 62.8 percent of his passes in 38 career games for 8,398 yards but has thrown only 45 touchdowns, and committed 49 turnovers, including 20 fumbles lost. The NY Giants have won just 12 games Jones has started.

The fact that the NY Giants have started a patchwork offensive line that allowed pressure on 23.3 percent of Jones’ drop backs this season, a career low, certainly complicates any evaluation of the third-year quarterback.

However, if the NY Giants are going to pick up Jones’ fifth-year option, it is going to be costly. Jones would cost approximately $21.3 million against the cap in 2023.

Evaluating whether the front office and coaching staff agree that Jones gives this team the best chance to compete for the playoffs in 2022 and beyond, and more importantly grow with the young players that will be brought in as part of a multi-year rebuild beginning this offseason, may be the most vital question facing the franchise.

Whether Jones is the quarterback in 2022, the NY Giants take a quarterback with a top pick in the draft, or package a trade for a veteran, New York absolutely needs to be right.