The mail’s here!
Mike Tizzano asks: My question is about the future for Ojulari. He was outstanding against Cincy. If he continues to play at a high level for the next few games while Thibs is out, but the Giants keep losing, do you think it’s more likely that they try to shop him at the deadline and sell high or look to sign him to a new contract in the offseason?
Ed says: Mike, I think it is possible that the Giants listen to offers for Azeez Ojulari if things go poorly for the team the next few weeks. If they think they can compete and Ojulari is playing well, probably not. I would also think there might be some quiet conversation between the Giants and Ojulari’s reps about whether or not he is open to returning to the Giants next season, or if he intends to test free agency. If he is intent on leaving, that might tilt the decision.
Gary Economu asks: I’m curious what you think our record would be with Tyrod Taylor as the QB? I’m even more interested in hearing what it might take for us to get Jake Browning from Cincinnati?
Ed says: Gary, I have no idea what the Giants’ record would be with Tyrod Taylor as quarterback. For what it’s worth, Taylor is a journeyman and no one’s answer as a QB1. He’s been in the league for 14 years and hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2017. He is a backup and, at best, a bridge quarterback. It is a pointless debate, anyway, because the bridge with Taylor was burned last year when the Giants rode with Tommy DeVito rather than giving Taylor back the starting job when he returned from his broken ribs. I seriously doubt he would have come back.
As for Browning, what is the fascination? This is a guy who went undrafted and has been in the league since 2019. Last season was the only time he has ever gotten into games. He played well, with a 70.4% completion rate, 98.4 passer rating and 60.1 QBR. Are seven starts over six seasons enough to make anyone believe Browning can be a QB1?
Maybe if you are moving on from Jones and you think Browning could be your bridge guy in 2025 you offer a late Day 3 pick. I’m certainly not handing him the keys to the franchise and expecting him to be the answer.
Vincent Moody asks: Is it fair to say the Giants are just good quarterback play away from being great?
Ed says: Vincent, no, I don’t think that is a fair statement. I have acknowledged that the Giants need high-quality quarterback play more consistently than they get it from Daniel Jones. That will help them be better. Great, though? The Giants are making some progress, but they are still more than a quarterback away from being consistently good. Let’s start there.
Bill Virginia asks: I’ve been a Giant fan since I was 12 years old. I’m now 81. I have followed them to many venues including Yale Bowl. Like many Giant fans, I’m fed up losing. Our quarterback is in the NFL now 6 years. It’s obvious to many of us that he is not a franchise quarterback. We are not going to be a winning football team with him leading us.
My question is, when is it time to send him to the bench and let the other two quarterbacks finish the year. We are not going anywhere so let the other two a chance to play.
Ed says: Bill, you have a lifetime of Giants memories — good and bad. I have said this before, but Daniel Jones is the best quarterback the Giants have. Jones and Drew Lock were selected in the same draft. Put their careers side by side, and Jones has clearly been better. Jones vs. Tommy DeVito? I know some fans believe DeVito can be a QB1. I do not. He was undrafted for a reason. He had his moment in the sun a year ago, but he’s not a full-time NFL starting quarterback.
When will the Giants send Jones to the bench? When they think the season is lost and they turn their attention to 2025. Like it or not, Jones gives them their best chance to win games — until there is no reward for winning he will play.
The players in the locker room understand when a season has been given up on. Do that too soon and you risk losing the support of the players. Those players put their bodies and careers on the line every week. If players think the coaching staff or organization don’t care about that, it becomes a problem.
David Kanter asks: Hi Ed. With Andrew Thomas adios muchacho do you think it’s time to shut down Daniel Mr Injury Prone-Jones? Me thinks his dia de adios muchacho is coming.
Ed says: David, this is similar to the question I just answered. No, it’s not time to shut down Daniel Jones. You do that right now you are telling an entire locker room full of players that you are quitting on the season. You do that, you lose the locker room. You do that, you probably lose ownership. You lose those things, you lose your job. Brian Daboll — and Joe Schoen — aren’t going to go out of their way to get themselves fired.
Jones, despite all his flaws, is the quarterback the organization believes gives them the best chance to win. Until they no longer believe that, or until preparing for 2025 becomes more important than trying to win games this season, Jones will play. As he should.
There will probably come a time this season when the Giants decide they need to protect themselves against Jones’ injury guarantee kicking in. That time is not now.
Brian Misdom asks: Hi Ed, another game the Giants were competitive in but let slip away. On one hand, this seems like progress as we are talking a few breaks could have meant a surprisingly good start. On the other, bad teams find ways to lose games and we’ve certainly done that.
There are a number of problems to square away, but I think we are seeing the ceiling of a team that cannot overcome its QB and injuries. And I do understand half of the games now have had seriously underwhelming showings with 6, 15 and 7 points.
My question is how much of this competitive-but-lose can Daboll withstand? There is a good chance the Giants end up with an awful record that may not be truly reflective of where they are. Does a top 5 pick mean he is out, regardless of “how” they get there?
I haven’t lost faith in Daboll as a coach yet, but I do know in a market like New York, Mara might succumb to the pitch forks.
Ed says: Brian, I don’t think there is a hard and fast line that determines what happens. I don’t think you can say “if they win five games,” Brian Daboll is out. Or, if they pick in the top five, Daboll is out. Some will say it is a wishy-washy answer, but I truly believe you have to watch it play and see what it looks and feels like.
I keep saying it, but I do not think John Mara wants to move on from Daboll (or Joe Schoen). The Giants have tried turning over the coaching staff again and again in recent years and it has gotten them nowhere. I don’t think Mara and Steve Tisch will want to go through that again unless there is a mutiny that makes it impossible to go forward with this coach and GM.
Bob Donnelly asks: Just wanted to say thanks and job well done on the article on replacing AT and time running out for Jones.
How else- in real time, not hindsight- should Schoen have handled the QB situation?As you rightly pointed out as events unfolded:
Declining the fifth year option was the obvious right choiceThey weren’t in position to draft a QB in his first draftAfter making the playoffs in his first year of tenure there certainly were not in position to draft a QB. Some will argue, and did at the time, that he should have tagged Jones and given Saquon the contract. But he made the call and the contract was structured with the escape provision that will soon be executed.
As you have so correctly stated over the years, as things were happening, Schoen did not have any better QB options. The frustration fans had with Jones was completely understandable but there just wasn’t a good alternative.
My guess is Jones will be the QB up to the bye week, then be benched to avoid the injury clause. I just hope he isn’t injured before then.
Ed says: Bob, I’m not sure what the GM could have done differently. You can argue that the Giants should have drafted J.J. McCarthy this past offseason, but that’s it. They tried to trade up and were rebuffed.
The 2022 draft class was Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, etc. There is no one in that class better than Jones. The free agent class was Jameis Winston, Mitchell Trubisky, Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton, etc. Again, no better options than Jones.
In the 2023 offseason, with Jones coming off his best season, were the Giants supposed to draft Will Levis as a potential replacement? Ask Titans fans if they think Levis is a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. He’s not better than Jones.
I know for a fact that Schoen is surprised to be this far down the road with Jones because I’ve asked him. This is not how it usually goes with questionable quarterbacks when a new regime comes in.
If the Giants had suffered a losing season in 2022 they probably would have moved on. They won a playoff game, and the quarterback had a lot to do with it.
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