The Drew Lock experiment in New York is approaching its breaking point. After flaming out in Denver, failing to stick in Seattle, and now floundering with the Giants, Lock’s career has been a story of unfulfilled promise.
Once viewed as a potential franchise quarterback, the 28-year-old former second-round pick is now teetering on the edge of NFL irrelevance.
The Giants have turned to Lock yet again this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, with Tommy DeVito still working through concussion protocol and Tim Boyle as the emergency backup. For Lock, this might be his last shot—not just to save his Giants tenure, but to prove he belongs in the league at all. His 2024 stats don’t exactly inspire confidence: 414 passing yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions, a 51.1% completion rate, and a brutal 54.6 passer rating. Add in a nine-game losing streak and the Giants’ embarrassing 2-12 record, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
If Lock lays another egg—or worse, gets hurt again—this weekend, his time with the Giants could end before the season does. The reality is that New York’s quarterback carousel has been spinning wildly since Daniel Jones was benched and eventually released. Lock has been given chances, and so far, he’s failed to capitalize. Sunday against Atlanta might be his last audition to show he can do more than just hold a clipboard.
Drew Lock's chances to prove he belongs in the NFL are dwindling
Lock’s career trajectory has been one disappointment after another. His stint in Denver started with promise, but inconsistency and turnovers quickly derailed it. He was traded to Seattle, where he lost a quarterback competition to Geno Smith. Now in New York, he’s spent most of the season bouncing between starter and emergency option, unable to seize control of an offense desperate for stability.
His most recent outings have been rough, to say the least. Against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago, Lock completed just 42.9% of his passes for 227 yards with zero touchdowns and one pick. Sure, he added 59 rushing yards, but that’s not what this team needs from him.
Before that, in his Thanksgiving start against Dallas, he threw for only 178 yards and another interception while taking six sacks. The flashes of potential that once made him an intriguing prospect are now buried under years of frustration and inconsistency.
The stakes on Sunday are huge, not just for Lock but for the Giants’ immediate future. Atlanta’s rookie quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., will be making his first NFL start. If Lock can’t outplay a rookie—one the Giants passed on in this year’s draft—it will only add to the calls for New York to clean house completely. It’s already a near-certainty that Brian Daboll is on the hot seat, but Lock’s performance (or lack thereof) could solidify the front office’s need to move on entirely from this failed experiment.
Drew Lock played the best game of his career in week 9 of 2020 while with #BroncosCountry , throwing for 313 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT and adding 47 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD (29.2 #fantasyfootball points).
— Mikey - Basement Brewed FF (@BBFFMikey) December 18, 2024
His opponent? The Atlanta Falcons.
He'll try again Sunday! #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/JjQQkHwGYA
It’s not just his play that’s under scrutiny—durability is a major concern. Lock’s heel and elbow injuries forced him out of action last week, and he’s been plagued by health issues throughout his career. If he can’t stay on the field, there’s no reason for the Giants—or any team—to keep investing in him.
For Lock, this is a career-defining moment. He’s running out of time to prove he can lead an NFL offense or even function as a reliable backup. A strong showing against Atlanta could buy him some time, maybe even a spot on another roster next year. But if he struggles again, the league might decide it’s finally time to move on from Drew Lock.
Giants fans have seen enough quarterbacks fail over the years. They know what’s at stake, and so does Lock. If he can’t deliver on Sunday, it might be the end of the road for a career that’s never truly gotten off the ground.