Giants Country

New York Giants Mailbag: "Giant-sized" Edition

Let's see what's on the readers minds this week.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag: "Giant-sized" Edition
New York Giants Mailbag: "Giant-sized" Edition

In this story:

New York Giants

If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please use this link to avoid having your question land in spam. You may also post your questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) to @Patricia_Traina, hashtag #askPTrain. Please note that letters may be edited for clarity/length.

(From Alan N.)  You may want to consider some of the following in evaluating Daniel Jones: In the horrific opener against Dallas, he and Prescott had almost exactly the same number of total yards (Jones a little more running, Prescott a little more passing), which meant that Jones did as well facing the Dallas defense, behind the Giants OL as Prescott did against the Giants defense behind the Dallas OL.  

  • Jones 104 passing (53.57 completion %), 43 rushing (3.3 per attempt), Total: 147 yards. 0 TD, 2 int.
  • Prescott 143 passing (54.16%), 6 rushing (6 per attempt), Total 149 yards, 0 TD. 0 int.

Then we can compare Jones (with his OL and receivers) to Prescott (with his OL and receivers) v. common opponents (Seattle, SF, AZ)

Arizona:

  • Jones 321 passing, 59% completion, 59 rushing (6.6 yards per), total: 380 yards. 2TD, 1 int. 
  • Prescott 249 passing, 62.5%, 24 rushing (8 per), total: 273 yards, 1 TD, 1 int.

49ers:

  • Jones 137 passing, (68.75%), 5 rushing (2.5 per), total: 142 yards. 0 TD, 1 int.
  • Prescott 153 passing (58.3%), 2 rushing (2 per), total: 155 yards. 1 TD, 3 int.

Seattle:

  • Jones 203 passing (79.4%), 66 rushing (6.6 per), total: 269 yards, 0 TD, 2 int. 
  • Prescott 299 passing (70.73%), 23 rushing (3.3). Total: 322 yards, 3 TD, 0 int

The cumulative stats for the 4 games:

  • Jones: Passing 765 (65.4%), Prescott: Passing 844 (62.8)
  • Jones: Rushing 173 (5/attempt)/ Prescott: Rushing 55 (3/attempt)
  • Total yards: Jones 938 / Prescott 899
  • Jones 2 TD, 6 interceptions / Prescott 5 TD, 4 interceptions

Alan, I appreciate your research, but you're cherry-picking stats to support an argument that remains built on sand. First, since when is Dak Prescott, who didn't look so great in the Cowboys' one-and-done playoff appearance, the gold standard by which we should be comparing the league's other quarterbacks?

Tell me how Dak stacks up to Mahomes, Jackson, Burrow, Herbert, etc. And how much of the stats are you citing for Dak and Daniel when their respective games were still close versus when they were in garbage time?

Now that said, I believe that if a blue-chip quarterback isn't there at six and the Giants sit tight, I can see them either trading down OR grabbing a receiver at No. 6, either being a move I wouldn't hate.

As for Evan Neal, I wouldn't hate them moving him to left guard, but I don't get that to be in the cards right now unless new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo recommends otherwise. Even in that instance, I would say look to sign a right tackle in free agency to put some more veteran depth on that starting unit and use the draft to get either a receiver or quarterback in the first round.

(From Steve M.) Is this to be the year in which The Giants put us out of our misery by showing us that they can compete in the NFC East and, by so doing, make a genuine push into the playoffs?

Steve, I don't have a crystal ball, my friend. The off-season roster moves haven't even begun, the Giants and Washington haven't even filled out their coaching staffs, and several Giants needed some off-season surgeries, which may or may not affect if they can start working in the spring. Let's put this topic on the back burner and revisit it midway through training camp when one has a better idea of what these teams will look like.

(From Charlie C.) Pat, do you think if the first three picks are quarterbacks as projected, the Giants would consider a quarterback at 6? The ‘experts’ seem very split on who the 4th quarterback is, so unless the Giants have a different view, it would seem to be a reach when there could be better value at other positions, but we know the rules differ when talking quarterbacks.

Charlie, just a wild guess here, but if the first three quarterbacks are gone by the time the Giants are on the clock, I think grabbing a wide receiver makes the most sense. This is a deep quarterbacks class, and while it would be nice to get one in the first round, remember the Giants are picking early enough in Round 2 to where they should be able to get a quarterback there if they want one and have an eye on one that makes sense.

(From Peter M.) I noted your recent salary cap episode about a tag and trade for Saquon Barkley. Do you think we could do a player-for-player trade? For example, trading Saquon to the Broncos for WR Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy's 5th year costs $12.987 million. The projected RB Franchise Tag is $12,419,000 (over the cap).

Hi Peter. There is no rule says a tag and trade can't involve getting another player. However, with the receiver class being so deep, why not ask for draft assets instead and get a potential receiver on a rookie deal?

(From Waymond S.) I have a feeling The Giants giving Jones that extension was more strategic than anything else. Injury history aside, they could be telling everybody he's the starter because they're praying he plays well next year to set up trade value. If he plays well, the potential draft pick he gets traded for gets better. I don't think they want him there anymore. Don't be surprised if they shave down everything Jones has to do just to make him look good AGAIN.

Also, it would be coaching malpractice NOT to bring back Tyrod. He has been QB's best option since they brought him in. Yes, he gets injured--everybody does. But he's a very solid placeholder until we get a QB to build around. Besides, the offense comes alive when he's back there. Letting him go and keeping one quarterback who they don't want and another quarterback who is just terrible is just dumb.

One more. What are your thoughts on a totally hypothetical DC suggestion, Rex Ryan? 

Hi Waymond. Think back to 2022. Schoen declined Jones's fifth-year option, wanting to see how he would do in the new system. When Jones did well and managed to stay healthy, the Giants drafted too low to have a chance at a franchise quarterback. So rather than start with a new veteran, they likely figured the lesser of the evils was to run it back with Jones after they declined.

As for Tyrod Taylor, while I agree he's one of the better backups they've had, he's also been injury-prone each year he's been here to the point where it costs him games. I'm not sure spending premium dollars, which it would likely take to retain him (figure they'd have to give him an even better contract than they did the first time around), is the best use of financial resources. 

I'd pass on Rex Ryan. He's been out of the game for a number of years--if that doesn't tell you something, then I don't know what to tell you. I don't care about the name or pedigree. There are other options if Brian Daboll wants to think outside the box.

(From Erik A.) Curious about your thoughts on the Giants aggressively pursuing Mike Onwenu. He’ll be a hot commodity, but his versatility alone is even more valuable for the Giants. Particularly in forcing Evan Neal to hit his potential at RT or else he moves to LG. 

If Neal cannot cut it at RT, in swoops Onwenu. If Neal hits and holds down RT, you have Onwenu at RG to bolster the interior and support Neal on the right side. The contract they dish out to get him would be an overpay if he lands at RG, but it’ll mean Evan Neal is doing the job at RT on a rookie deal, so we can afford to overpay a guard for 2-3 years. The cap is tight, but there are always moves to be had to free up space, and year-one cap hits for new signees are very fungible.

In the draft, I’d lean Nabers at 6. If we can move back to 9-10, though, I’d take that and target Odunze. With a fixed O-line (players and coaching), a dangerous receiving corp that includes a potential #1, and a healthy Jones, we could do big things next year. This is especially true if we can also solve #2 rusher and CB while adding to depth along both lines. If it all goes down in flames, Schoen and Daboll are out. New regime can draft QB in ‘25. 

Erik you are assuming that the Giants don't do anything at quarterback. Joe Schoen has already said they're going to need to address the quarterback spot, Why ignore it after he confirmed it?

As for Onwenu, I woudln't hate the idea if he becomes available, but I think I'd rather they spend money to get another edge rusher in here. The draft class has some solid prospects and if Bricillo can work some magic, I'd rather they go that way.

(From Gary L.) The Giants seem to be caught in limbo. They appear to have just enough talent on the roster and just enough cap space and draft capital where if every decision they make is correct, they can assemble a competitive team. In their current situation they would have to get very lucky to assemble a consistent contender. Would it make more sense to just tear the team down and start over? 

They would have a few tough seasons but it would give them better control of their cap situation which would allow them to obtain proven players when they got to the point of being competitive again. It just feels like the current state of affairs is going to lead to another decade like the last one.

Gary, how many times does this team need to hit the re-start button? Come on, now. You have the coaching staff in place and the general manager. You've invested in core foundation pieces. Build around that and keep on chopping wood. Will you fix all the holes? No. But if you have coaches who can figure out a way to minimize those holes, that's how you proceed. 

(From Jeff H.) Regarding DJ, some people say he did OK with only one read in 2022 and failed to function with multiple reads in 2023. He was getting slammed repeatedly on the first read during the 2023 running of the bulls disaster. And when the bulls didn’t arrive, even the toughest of men would hear the footsteps after five years of abuse.

Jones blockers were a generous F-, and DeVito and Taylor generally had a D/D- line with Thomas and eventually Phillips. Here’s my take. If we imagined “X” 1st round QB with good size, arm, speed, accuracy, and toughness and say (1) he’ll have five years of atrocious o-lines and (2) 5 years of nothing remotely close to a #1 quality WR, the outlook would always be a unanimous failure to any predictor. If Jones were to switch teams with SF or Philly, I can assure you that the results would be dramatically different for DJ and Purdy/Hurts. But we who believe in DJ only ask for a C- line and a #1B caliber WR. Is it too much to ask for in a fair evaluation?

Jeff, with all due respect, your line grades are subjective and sort of splitting hairs. So, let's stick to the facts as what you might grade as an F, I might grade differently.

Ask yourself why Jones was getting slammed constantly on his first reads while Taylor and DeVito weren't always getting slammed as much. I've said this before and will say it again. Jones's processing is slower than molasses being poured out of a jug post-snap. 

I get that he got beaten up a lot behind a poor offensive line. I'm not sure if you are old enough to remember, but Phil Simms took a beating as well back in the day, and he kept bouncing up, daring the defense to hit him again. Same with Eli Manning there for a while. 

So while I feel for any quarterback that gets knocked around behind a crappy offensive line, the mentally tough ones don't let it send them into a state of being shell-shocked. 

Based on what information I have--and I'm still in the early stages of studying the quarterbacks--I'd probably lean toward Drake Maye.  I don't think the top three prospects (Maye, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels) are going to fall to No. 6, though, which, if that's how it plays out and I have a chance at getting the No. 1 receiver, that's how I might lean.

Andrew, I don't think anything is off the table, to be honest. That said, unless this team fills some of these more pressing needs via free agency, I'm not sure eI want to see them give up a lot of draft assets to move up. Free agency should provide some clarity into the thought process.

Ed, I have always been of the opinion that when you come off an underwhelming season, you use as many of your draft assets as possible to improve. That said, scared money don't make money. If there is a quarterback that Schoen and Daboll have to have, they'll do what it takes to move up.

 Keith, anything is possible. Maybe Wilson doesn't want to make any decisions known since the Ravens are still in the postseason.  As for your second question, I'm assuming in your scenario, MHJ, Caleb Williams, and Drake Maye are also gone, right? At that point, I think I would have a hard time passing on Joe Alt.

No. Why would one of the greatest head coaches of all time want to take a step backward?

I'm wondering if Dennard Wilson is the guy, and the reason why it hasn't happened yet is because the Raves are still in the playoffs. 

Dead money simply is the balance of a player's prorated signing bonus (plus any guaranteed money owed unless there is offset language in the contract) being deducted from the total cap space, despite the player not being on the team. So in the case of Waller, you have it correct. Of his total $14.083 million 2024 cap hit, the Giants would only get $6 million in savings, with the rest going into the dead money ledger.

(From Rodey S.)  Texas had two running backs taken in last year's draft but not one lineman. Why?

Rodney, if that's indeed the case, I think we can probably infer that no one within the NFL community gave the Longhorn offensive linemen high enough draft grades.

I've been beating that drum now for several weeks, most recently in this article.

KC, funny you mention that because, yes, I did get that impression. At first, I thought it was just them being modest, but the more I thought about it as training camp went on, the more I kept coming back to that and if that was driven by something they either saw or didn't see.

Nothing yet as of this writing. As soon as something breaks, I'll have it on the site and on the podcast.

Dennis, I can't speak for Thibodeaux, but no, I don't think the Giants HAVE to trade Barkley, nor do I think there's a conspiracy going on here. I still believe that they want to get something done with him. Whether that happens is another story. 

Published
Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

Share on XFollow Patricia_Traina
Home/Big Blue+