Jones on Giants’ best QB option: I’m right here!
Possible top pick Bowers stops in for visit with Gang
Daniel Jones didn’t hesitate. Ten days before a draft packed with first-round quarterback prospects, Jones was asked whether he believes, if healthy, he’s the Giants’ best option at the position going into the 2024 season.
“I do, yes,” Jones said with a smile.
The confident response came amid swirling speculation about the Giants’ plan for the sixth overall pick in a draft in which as many as four quarterbacks could be taken before then.
Jones, whom the Giants’ previous regime selected No. 6 overall in 2019, is entering the second season of a four-year, $160 million extension, though he appeared in only six games during a difficult 2023 as he dealt with a neck injury and a season-ending ACL tear.
The Giants can get out of Jones’ contract after the upcoming season with palatable salary-cap ramifications, further fueling the questions about his future. Jones says he’s making progress in his rehab and aims to be cleared for training camp.
“My focus is what I’m doing here with my rehab,” Jones said, when asked about the possibility of the Giants drafting a quarterback.
“It’s a competitive league, so the best way to handle that is to focus on what I’m doing, focus on myself, and making sure that I’m, one, healthy, and then ready to play good football. That’s what I can control. That’s what I can do to help myself and the team.”
Jones, 26, helped lead the Giants to a playoff appearance and a win in the Wild Card round after the 2022 season, marking their first postseason trip in six years and their first playoff victory in more than a decade. He passed for only two touchdowns against six interceptions last season, however, and the Giants went 1-5 in his starts.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen hasn’t ruled out trading up, or back, in the draft’s first round on April 25, while Brian Daboll acknowledged Monday the team is doing its “due diligence” on every position, including quarterback.
Co-owner John Mara said at last month’s owners meetings that he “certainly would support” the Giants taking a quarterback at No. 6 or higher if Schoen and Daboll fell in love with one.
“I think you can get into trouble when you try to think too much about some of those things and how it all works out, and your antenna for some of those dynamics and relationships,” Jones said Monday.
“I’m just focused on what I’m doing, and that’s my rehab, getting healthy, spending time with the guys and making sure we’re getting on the same page, having the best spring we can. I guess that’d be a better question for Joe and (Daboll), but I’m focused on what I’ve got to do.”
The top three picks are owned by quarterback-needy teams in Chicago, Washington and New England. Minnesota, meanwhile, boasts two first-round picks (No. 11 and No. 23) as potential tradeup ammunition. North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy are among the prized pass-throwers most often connected to the Giants.
Jones, who spoke during the first day of the Giants’ voluntary offseason program, said he hasn’t experienced any setbacks in his rehab for his surgically repaired knee, and added his neck feels 100% following last season’s “stinger-like” injury. Jones missed the final six games of the 2021 season with a neck injury.
He said Monday he hopes to participate in drills this spring, but Daboll declined to commit to that.
“It’s day-to-day with these injuries,” Daboll said. “Come in and be improved from where you were the day before, and I don’t think too far ahead with that.” AP
The Jets’ potential first-round pick has reportedly already been in their building. According to Fox Sports, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers visited the Jets on Monday morning. Less than two weeks before the draft, many draft analysts believe the Jets will select Bowers with their 10th overall pick.
That includes ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who, in his latest mock draft, has Bowers going to the Jets.
“I just went with Bowers as a weapon, they need that,” Kiper said during a conference call last week. “People say they don’t have to have a tight end, but that guy can do so many different things.”
A month ago, it appeared the Jets were going to select an offensive lineman with their 10th overall pick. But they’ve filled all five of their starting spots up front.
Gang Green signed left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson in free agency. The team also traded for right guard Morgan Moses.
The biggest question about the Jets’ offensive line the last two seasons has been their health. In 2022, 11 players started on the line.
Last season, the line was again decimated by injuries. The Jets used 14 offensive line combinations in 17 games, leading the NFL.
Gang Green’s offensive line is undoubtedly better than it was a season ago. However, both Smith and Moses are 33 and heading into the final years of their contract.
Another thing to remember is that Smith and Moses have injury concerns. Smith hasn’t played an entire season since 2015, and Moses is returning from pectoral surgery.
Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is also rehabbing from an Achilles tear he suffered last October. Vera-Tucker’s triceps tendon also cut his 2022 season short.
“Would you look at an offensive lineman, sure,” Kiper said. “They can take a JC Latham (Alabama) or Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State) or a Troy Fautanu (Washington) because that would give you insurance. You got five guys, if they’re healthy, they’re good. But that sixth man can be your insurance in case your book-end veteran 33-year-old tackles that have injury issues get hurt. And Vera-Tucker has had an injury issue.
“You get a sixth man with Aaron Rodgers, who’s 40-years of age coming off an Achilles. I can take either one, Bowers or the linemen. But if I’m going to take the linemen, I’m going to trade off of 10. If I’m taking Bowers, I would take him at 10. The key there is getting a second-round pick back and right now the
Jets don’t have one.”
There’s a reason the Jets are considering selecting Bowers. During his three seasons at Georgia, Bowers was one of the more dynamic players in the nation.
Last season, he finished with 56 receptions for 714 yards and six touchdowns. In three years, Bowers caught 175 passes for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.
At 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, Bowers is a little undersized for a traditional tight end. But what he lacks in size, Bowers makes up for with his speed and strength, which allow him to catch passes over the middle and through traffic.
Acquiring another weapon for Rodgers could be too tempting for the Jets to pass up. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson has been a security blanket the last two seasons, catching 178 passes for 2,145 yards and seven touchdowns, but he could use a reliable complement.
The Jets did sign Mike Williams to a oneyear contract last month, but his status for Week 1 is in question. He is continuing to rehab from an ACL tear he suffered last season and probably will not be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
Adding Bowers alongside Tyler Conklin could create potential matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. The Jets love to use a lot of 12 personnel formations, — two tight ends and one running back.
Conklin was second on the Jets in catches last season with 61. He also registered 621 yards.
Without Rodgers, the Jets’ offense was among the worst in the league in 2023. Gang Green was 31st in yards (268.6) and 29th in points per game (15.8). The Jets hope a healthy Rodgers, along with more offensive weapons, will help improve that side of the ball.
“I think you’ve seen tight ends go that high in recent drafts,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said at the owners meetings. “We are open to anyone coming in here and making an immediate impact.”
RODGERS IN THE HOUSE
The Jets were one of 25 teams with returning coaches who began their offseason program Monday morning.
Rodgers was among the showed up.
Since the end of the season, Rodgers continued to rehab near his offseason California home. After he was traded to the Jets, Rodgers attended most of the offseason activities.
Phase one of the offseason program involves two weeks of strength and conditioning, physical rehab, and meetings with players. The second phase will be held in three weeks, during which players will participate in on-field workouts. However, there will be players who no live contact or offense versus defense drills.
The third and final phase of the offseason program includes organized team activities and mandatory minicamps. During these four weeks, 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.
NEW UNIFORMS
After owner Woody Johnson teased them following the Super Bowl in February, the Jets have finally revealed their new uniforms that will be worn during the upcoming season.
The Jets’ “Legacy Collection” is a nod to the Sack Exchange Era (1979-89). Last season, the Jets introduced a “Legacy White” uniform with a white jersey and pants. In addition to that, the Jets will include a green jersey and an alternate black one called “Legacy Black” with the old Green logo but trimmed in white on a matte black helmet.
The new uniforms will also include a new look of the team’s Sack Exchange era logo.
“We work for the fans,” Johnson said in a statement. “They have consistently asked for us to return to our roots and we heard them. The new uniforms are explicitly designed to look and feel like the New York Jets while refreshing the club’s iconic logo – viewed by fans as our most identifiable mark.”