Right before the NFL Draft got started, the assumption by so many of us was that the NY Giants and Joe Schoen would bring in a new signal-caller. Schoen and Co. reportedly tried to trade up to land North Carolina's Drake Maye, but the efforts there fell short.
Then, everyone was waiting to see if Schoen would go QB during Day 2 or Day 3. Again, nothing happened there, with the Giants QBs room staying as is for now. Shortly after NY's final draft pick, Schoen backed Daniel Jones as his starter, but some of his words didn't make it seem like he was overly confident in Danny Dimes continuing to be the long-term answer:
GM Joe Schoen reinforces after the draft that he said following the season that Daniel Jones was going to be the starter at QB for the Giants this season.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) April 27, 2024
Schoen: “That’s where we are. That’s what we’re going to move forward with this season. Daniel is still under contract for…
Joe Schoen is putting all of his trust in Daniel Jones for the 2024 season
'As it sits today, that's where we are' - okay Mr. Schoen. With so many injury issues for Jones in recent seasons, the expectation was that a young stud QB would be on his way to East Rutherford by now. Instead, it's looking like Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito will be the QBs in town.
It goes without saying, but the pressure is on for Jones to somehow find a way to live up to his $160 million contract next season. And you know what, there are no more excuses for the former No. 6 overall pick. The Giants offensive line was a joke last year, but NY prioritized changes there in free agency.
At wide receiver, Jones has been without a WR1 from the moment he was drafted, but that all changed in a big way with Malik Nabers being taken off the board at No. 6 overall. Yes, Darren Waller might end up retiring, but bringing in Penn State tight end Theo Johnson in Round 4 felt like a brilliant move from Schoen.
Johnson is going to be a reliable target for Jones regardless of if Waller retires or not. Jones earned his payday after a strong 2022, but his 2023 was something you'd read about in a horror novel. If he wants to lock in his place with this team for the future, he's going to have to convince a lot of people that he can step his game up. At the top of the list is Schoen.