If Week 1 becomes the norm, Daniel Jones will not be the New York Giants quarterback for much longer.
In the second year of a massive (now fool-hardy-looking) four-year, $160 million contract, the Giants hold an opt-out following the 2024 campaign — one they will most decidedly take if the 27-year-old cannot turn things around.
It will leave the Giants scouring all corners of the football world for a replacement as head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen’s desperation will only grow if the team they build comes up with a second-consecutive lame season.
Their next quarterback will likely come from the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Giants appear destined for a top pick considering just how bad they looked in a Week 1, 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, this could just be an early-season hiccup, but panic from outside the organization seems to be settling in already.
5 Giants QB options for 2025
Quinn Ewers, Texas: Ewers’ stock continues to grow during the early portions of the 2024 college football season. In two games, he has thrown for 506 yards with six touchdowns and one interception while his Longhorns have gotten off to a 2-0 start, headlined by a demolition of the defending national champs, Michigan, on Saturday.
The Ohio State transfer has a big arm that looks as though it is working effortlessly when throwing deep. A traditional pocket passer, there is no throw on the field that he cannot make.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: The Buffaloes might be underachieving with Deion Sanders at head coach, but his son is still regarded as one of the top quarterbacks that will be available at the 2025 Draft. Shedeur Sanders has been able to produce behind a porous Colorado offensive line over the last two seasons, though it appears to be getting to him nowadays.
After throwing for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns and three interceptions last year, Sanders already has two interceptions in two games, which includes a loss to Nebraska in Week 2.
While his arm talent and football IQ are considered to be top-tier, difficulties extending the play outside of the pocket have provided concern about him developing into a dual-threat quarterback, which is something that both Schoen and Daboll appear partial to having worked with Josh Allen in Buffalo before trying to mold Jones into just that, too. However, Sanders is the type of talent that makes those around him better, as he has shown in Colorado.
Carson Beck, Georgia: Appearing in his fifth collegiate season with Georgia, Beck looks to take the next step forward following an impressive 2023 campaign in which he led the SEC with 3,941 passing yards to go with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions.
Through two games this season, he has been as close to perfect as possible, completing 70.7% of his passes with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Beck is a rock in the pocket, showing supreme poise against the rush with an ability to get the ball out quickly and at high speeds. He can hit slants with surgical precision and make the reads with similar speed — something Jones did not show in Week 1. Some of his main concerns, however, are the accuracy of his deep passes and his ability to throw on the move.
Cam Ward, Miami (FL): Following two seasons, 6,968 passing yards, and 48 touchdowns to 16 interceptions at Washington State, Ward forewent the 2024 Draft and transferred to Miami, where he continues to raise his stock.
Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against Florida, showing off what makes him such a promising NFL prospect. Not only does he have a strong arm and quick decision-making skills, but he also has the maneuverability and elusiveness to escape pressure and provide accurate throws while on the move.
He does not have the biggest arm and has been accused of holding onto the ball for too long, but those are things that could be fixed with proper coaching at the NFL level. The largest issue, however, is that he does not have the most experience being a traditional pocket passer.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings: The former No. 3 overall pick of the Jets back in 2018 seemed to have been written off after failing to make it in New York and with the Carolina Panthers before spending last season as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. But a door opened when rookie JJ McCarthy went down with a season-ending injury, forcing the Vikings to promote Darnold to starter.
The Giants got a front-row seat of what he could do in Week 1 as they watched the former Jet complete each of his first 12 passes in the 28-6 win. He finished with a 79.2% completion rate (19 of 24), 208 yards, two scores, and a pick, which happened when his arm was hit by Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.
He led a 99-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter to suck the life out of the Giants and MetLife Stadium, headlined by a 44-yard reception to star man Justin Jefferson.
The 27-year-old looked comfortable and confident. Now it is about sustaining that success. If he can, teams will be knocking on his door next year for starting opportunities and if the Giants finish middle of the pack somehow, they could be one of them.
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