Where the former Giants lands could impact who quarterbacks the Giants in 2025
In a cruel bit of irony, discarded quarterback Daniel Jones could hold the key to who ends up playing the position for the New York Giants in 2025.
How’s that?
The first big domino in the offseason quarterback market fell on Friday when the Seattle Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting him with former Seattle head coach Pete Carroll.
By most accounts, the Seahawks’ preferred replacement for Smith is Sam Darnold, who is headed to free agency after a career year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Darnold and Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak were together with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Which brings us back to Jones.
After requesting and receiving his release from the Giants after being benched last season, Jones landed on the Vikings’ practice squad.
There has been a logical train of thought that if Darnold moves on from the Vikings, as seems likely, Jones could step in with Minnesota as the bridge to or backup for 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
But …
Jones is also a free agent, and NFL insider Mike Garafolo said that “Jones has other options, as well, it seems.”
Those options could include the Indianapolis Colts as either competition for or a replacement of Anthony Richardson, and the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 1 overall pick and an as-yet uncertain amount of interest in drafting a quarterback.
What happens if Darnold AND Jones bolt the Vikings?
Garafolo then dropped Aaron Rodgers’ name as a potential fit for the Vikings.
“If Rodgers heads to Minnesota, then where do the Giants wind up?,” Garafolo asked.
That’s a good question.
If Rodgers values a situation with a team that is more ready-made to win, then choosing Minnesota over New York would seem like a no-brainer.
A Plan B for New York behind Rodgers might be Russell Wilson. Except that there are reports that Justin Fields may leave the Pittsburgh Steelers in search of a guaranteed starting job, meaning the Steelers might have to re-up with the 37-year-old Wilson.
If the Titans were to sign Jones, would that make them more amenable to swapping the No. 1 overall pick to the Giants in exchange for No. 3 overall and other draft assets?
So many questions. So few answers.
And Jones might be at the center of it all.
