Matthew McMahon asks: With the talk about Jaxson Dart I’m having flashbacks to when Daniel Jones was selected. At the time I liked the pick well enough, but it bothered me a little that it seemed like they had picked the closest thing to Eli they could find (Cutcliffe system, “central casting” sort of idea), because then you’re picking a profile, not a player. How much was that actually a factor back then, and if it was have we moved past that kind of thinking in the building now? At least Cutcliffe is retired, but now there’s another Ole Miss guy getting chatter. Your thoughts?
Ed says: Matthew, the Daniel Jones selection by the Giants was very much about the idea that he fit the Eli Manning profile, one that the Giants had succeeded with, and had all the Manning connections.
Jaxson Dart will, of course, give those flashbacks. He went to Ole Miss. He has a relationship with Manning from there, and from the Manning Passing Academy. John Mara owns the Giants, and if Eli signs off on the idea that Dart could win in New York that will always carry weight.
Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll have no connection to Manning, but I do think they would be foolish not to ask his opinion of this quarterback class. Manning has expressed his willingness to help evaluate the group.
I think that in the end ownership will let Schoen and Daboll make their choice.
Henry Mildener asks: Here’s a quickie. Marcus Mariota as a bridge QB. Why not?
Ed says: Henry, Mariota’s name is worth considering. He has only been a full-time starter once since 2018 (13 games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022), but I have no issue putting his name into the mix.
Ridge Kennedy asks: If I was the Giants’ GM, I’d think had about bringing in Zach Wilson. I think he has more upside than Darnold. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent? Your thoughts?
Ed says: Ridge, that’s a hard pass for me. I know the New York Jets are dysfunctional and put Wilson in a horrible spot. As poorly as Wilson played for the Jets, and as lost as he often looked, I can’t see Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll turning to him in 2025. Not when their jobs are probably on the line.
John Watkins asks: Can you explain to me why most sports writers think that waiting to next year to draft a QB is such a great idea? Does the fact that to draft as low next year as this, means that we have just had another 3 win season. Does anybody really think that is the way to go?
Ed says: John, no one has said it is a good idea to have another three-win season. All anyone who studies the draft has said is that the belief right now is that the quarterback class will be of a higher caliber than this one. Many analysts do not believe there is a quarterback in this class who would have been in the top six of the last draft.
Thomas Boyhan asks: Can you explain to me why Jaxson Dart gets such negative love? When you compare him to Eli Manning, the comparison is stark. Eli was projected to be a first round draft pick and wound up going first overall. Then the Giants gave up 2 first-round picks and a fifth round pick to get him. Jaxson was originally projected to be a Day 3 pick. Now there is some talk about him being a Day 2 pick.
During his time at Ole Miss, Eli played 43 games to 45 games played by Dart. I mention this because now experts believe that college players that play more games in college have a better chance of succeeding in the NFL. Eli’s record at Ole Miss was 24-13 where he passed for 10,119 yards with a 60.8% completion rate and 7.42 yards avg. Jaxson went 28-13, passing for 11,970 yards with a 65.2% completion rate and 9.2 yards avg. Eli threw for 81 touchdowns with 35 interceptions while Jason threw 81 touchdowns with 27 interceptions. Eli had a QB rating of 137.7 while Jaxson had a rating of 158.4. And lastly, Eli rushed for 5 touchdowns with a -135 yard rushing. On the other hand, Jaxson rushed for 1541 yards and scored 14 TDs.
Why is Jaxson Dart so devalued?
Ed says: Thomas, why do you think Dart is “devalued?”
At one time, he was considered a likely fourth-round pick. Now, there are some who think he will go in the first round — maybe early in the first round.
There are differing opinions, as this piece I did recently indicate. Some people love him; others don’t. There are many out there in the scouting community who will tell you that because of the perceived weakness of this quarterback class Dart is “overvalued.”
Michael Carroll asks: Any reason why the Giants never offered a multi-year contract to OT Tyre Phillips? I understand he suffered a serious quad injury at the end of the 2023 season but prior to that he was a very solid player for us for filling in at RT (we were lucky to get him back from the Eagles PS in 2023 – never understood why we cut him). He seemed fully recovered from his injury at the end of last season and started at RT the final game. Considering our (very real) struggles to find quality OL depth, it seems crazy not to lock down a 28-year-old who can play a premium position and who knows our system – especially if the Giants finally move Neal to OG.
Ed says: Michael, the Giants absolutely need an experienced, quality swing tackle. Phillips is a likable player with the ability to play right tackle, guard and — maybe — left tackle in an emergency. He is a decent option.
I think, though, that Giants fans have romanticized Phillips and have, because he was comparatively OK during stints in 2022 and 2023 when Evan Neal was awful, gained an impression that Phillips is something that he is not. He is, at best, an adequate veteran fill-in who can play a few different spots. Every team needs those guys, but the idea that the conversation always comes back to “why haven’t the Giants signed Tyre Phillips?” becomes a bit much.
In 2022, Pro Football Focus graded Phillips 81st out of 89 qualifying tackles. That only looked good because Neal was 87th. In 2023, Phillips graded 72nd out of 85 qualifiers. Again, that only looked good because Neal was 84th.
Truth is, and this is coming from someone who has had several conversations with Phillips and likes him as a person, the Giants need to do better than Phillips at the swing tackle spot.
I would not be surprised if the Giants offered Phillips a reserve/futures contract at the end of the season and Phillips turned it down, seeking a better offer.
Could the Giants and Phillips circle back to each other? Sure. The Giants and Adoree’ Jackson did a year ago.
I just think it is important to be realistic about Phillips’ abilities.
Wsantora asks: My question is about Andrew Thomas. Have you heard or read anything that indicates he’ll be 100% when the season starts? I’m not a doctor so I’ve been trying to read everything a layman can about Lisfranc injuries. Depending on the severity, healing can be anywhere from a couple of months to a year or more. In some cases (rare), the patient never fully heals. As a LT, losing even a half second of quickness can be the difference between being elite and being average. After coming off his 2023 injury, you might remember he wasn’t quite himself at the beginning of this year; I believe he gave up 4 sacks in 6 games. What will this injury bring? Because of this, I wonder if the Giants should kick the tires on Jedrick Willis, who is coming off a bad season and will not be resigned by Cleveland. Could he be had on a cheap one year prove it deal? He can try out at RT, his position at Alabama, or be the experienced swing tackle we haven’t had.
Thomas is actually my biggest worry, next to QB. A big man with bad feet can not be a good thing. You saw what happened to the OL when he went down 2 years in a row. Can you or any of the doctors who post here shed some light on this? Thanks.
Ed says: The lasting impacts of the foot and ankle injuries that have plagued Thomas’s career are a legitimate concern. He said at the end of the season that he expects to be healthy this spring, but a foot injury for a 320-pound man can take longer to heal. Witness what happened last offseason with Evan Neal and his recovery from ankle surgery.
Thomas took a long-term deal from the Giants a couple of years ago when some thought he would have been smarter to wait. Because of his injuries, taking that deal looks like a smart decision.
As for Wills, I don’t know if he is the answer as a swing tackle. He has been slowed by injuries the past two seasons, but he likely still sees himself as a starter. Even if that means moving to right tackle. He will just be 26 during the upcoming season, and might not be ready to accept being pegged as a swing tackle. There probably isn’t any harm kicking the tires, but I’m not sure there will be a match there.
Ted Willard asks: I enjoyed this week the list of memories the BBV staff had about Eli Manning. One thing that stood out to me beyond the great play and even keel that Manning displayed on the field was the character and temperament that he displayed off the field whether in the locker room after a loss or out and about a city where there are so many ways to get into trouble.
New York City is a tough media market, and quarterbacks here are under the spotlight and face a lot of media scrutiny. As the Giants look for a new quarterback this offseason, I would be interested in your perspective as a member of the Fourth Estate on what extra things are required to be a quarterback here that might not be required in most other NFL cities.
Ed says: Ted, I always thought that one of Manning’s greatest talents was an ability to never make headlines for the wrong reasons. He never put himself in situations where people could wonder about his off-the-field behavior. He never showed up his teammates. He never blamed his teammates. He never drew attention to himself.
I think that should be important for every athlete, but I know it’s not. It’s a “look at me” world.
I don’t have to name names, but in the New York/New Jersey media market there are plenty of sports writers who wake up in the morning thinking about who they can tear down and how they can do it. Manning never gave them anything to work with except his play on the field.
Aaron Rodgers, who spent all kinds of time the last couple of years purposefully drawing attention to himself for everything but football, could have learned from that.
I think not drawing the wrong kind of attention is incredibly important in the New York/New Jersey market. It is also important to have a thick skin and not spend your time caring about when it written about you on the Internet or said on social media. That isn’t easy for everybody.
Paul Passeri asks: Ed – why hasn’t anyone addressed the status of Evan Neal, particularly where it influences free agency and the draft. Watching him play right tackle during the later part of the season, we saw the good, as in run blocking, the bad, trying to respond to the inside move of an athletic edge, and the ugly, when he would end up on the ground. I thought that the good Evan Neal was quite impressive. Is there enough potential with him at guard for the Giants to extend him or do you think they move on?
Ed says: Paul, we have discussed Evan Neal over and over here at BBV. We have been clear that in our view it’s time for the team to try him at guard. In terms of the Giants addressing Neal, this is the offseason and I’m not sure what you are looking for. GM Joe Schoen won’t speak to media until the Combine. Even then, I doubt he would say anything definitive.
The Giants are not going to extend Neal’s contract now. Why would they do that? They do have a fifth-year option decision coming up in a few weeks. I will be shocked if they pick up the option. Again, why would they do that?
Steven Alessandrini asks: If the Giants have Ward and Sanders ranked similarly when we get closer to the draft, what do you think about trading up to #2 with the Browns vs #1 with the Titans? You assure yourself of getting one of them and it will cost less. Sitting at 3 and hoping the Titans and/or Browns don’t take a QB seems too risky given the stakes. However, I’m not sure either is worth the King’s ransom moving up to the first pick will cost. This splits the difference.
Ed says: Steven, what it comes down to is whether or not the Giants feel either player is worth giving up significant draft capital for. It probably costs at least a first, second and third-round pick to get to No. 1. It probably costs something like a first and second-rounder to get to No. 2.
If they think either player is worth that, go for it. If they don’t, I might question why they would even draft one at No. 3.
Jeff Marx asks: As of this moment the teams 2024 draft, Schoen’s third as GM appears to be by far the best draft so far. The premium “misses” have been well documented and while the buck does stop with the GM I can’t help but wonder if this last draft was more successful because it took this long to put in place the front office staff he wanted, including scouts. Wouldn’t it be reasonable to believe that having the staff he wants while also taking a very serious look inward into his own decisions and mistakes any new GM may make and learning from those mistakes that the team may very well be, using his words “not that far off?”
Ed says: Jeff, I don’t know that we should believe that the Giants are “not that far off.” I do think that good decisions this offseason can and will help them get better.
Schoen has made mistakes, no doubt. He is a first-time GM, and one of the league’s younger ones. What you hope with anyone in any job is that they get better at it with experience, that they have the introspection and self-awareness to recognize their mistakes, learn from them and get better at what they do.
It is reasonable to believe that Schoen is capable of doing that.
Raymond Dansereau asks: So, count me among those who think Eli should have been a first ballot and it’s not even close. My question: I remember when he was drafted and there were some people mad that he was able to control going to the Giants over the Chargers. And I think some never really forgave him for that. It just seemed like there was an element of “how dare he/who does he think he is?” and I’ve wondered if that’s colored some coverage of him ever since. My question is: from your perspective, is that accurate? Is that a factor in some of the “he’s good, but not that great” coverage that ultimately kept him out of the hall this year?
Ed says: Raymond, there is probably some “Manning fatigue”, but I don’t think the Chargers thing has anything to do with it. Rightly or wrongly, I just think there are voters who can’t see beyond what they believe is a thoroughly mediocre regular season career.
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