Giants' newest QB addition faces uncertain role

Quarterback Drew Lock agreed to a one-year, $5M contract with the New York Giants on Tuesday, yet his role for the 2024 season remains largely to be determined.

Lock's position on the Giants depth chart this fall will depend on whether the team drafts a signal-caller in the early rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft and, even more so, on the health of Daniel Jones.

New York currently holds the No. 6 selection, and while the top trio of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels may all be off the board by then, other options like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. should all still be available. The Giants also have two picks in the second round with the 39th and 47th overall selections.

In terms of Jones, the 2019 first-round pick is less than two years removed from a career-best 2022 campaign, during which he produced 22 total touchdowns (seven rushing) against just five interceptions and posted a career-high 92.5 passer rating. Jones signed a massive four-year, $160M contract extension last March but struggled mightily in 2023.

He missed Weeks 6, 7 and 8 due to a neck injury and then suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his return to action in Week 9. Jones finished his fifth season with a career-high 67.5 completion percentage but just 909 passing yards, two touchdowns, six interceptions and a career-worst 70.5 passer rating.

It's been reported that New York expects Jones to be fully ready by training camp; if that's the case, he'll presumably be the starter.

With the draft still six weeks away, Lock would appear to be in position as Jones' backup, but he could conceivably open the fall as the starter should the rest of No. 8's recovery not go as planned. If the Giants use the No. 6 overall pick on a quarterback and feel like he's ready for the backup role, Lock could be the third-stringer.