The New York Giants will head into OTAs with a clear leader for the starting quarterback job ahead of the 2024 season. Giants head coach Brian Daboll recently expressed his preference for whose job it is to lose this fall.

The New York Giants brought in Drew Lock
The Giants brought in Drew Lock from Seattle to compete for the starting job. The team reportedly told Russell Wilson earlier this month the QB1 job would be up for grabs in the fall, and the team would not name him the starter heading into the fall. Wilson chose to be the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wilson’s decision opened the door for Lock to earn the starting job when the Giants signed him in free agency. However, the Giants are also interested in drafting J.J. McCarthy in the first round if he falls to six. Regardless of what happens to the Giants’ quarterback room this spring, the job appears to be Daniel Jones when he returns from injury.

Brian Daboll says the QB1 job is Daniel Jones’ to lose
According to Coral Smith with the NFL.com, Daboll said Jones will “be the guy” to lead the offense when he returns from his ACL injury:

“One area in which Daboll has not committed to significant change, however, is at the quarterback position, once again affirming his faith in Daniel Jones to continue leading the offense. Jones, still in the midst of rehabbing a torn ACL, didn’t have his best season even before being sidelined by the injury, but Daboll has stuck by him as the starter.

However, with Jones’ return timetable still unknown — Daboll only would say he was continuing to improve but balked at committing to a Week 1 return — the team signed former Seahawks QB Drew Lock, who Daboll expressed confidence in for the interim.

“We’re excited to have Drew, and he knows what his role is going to be,” Daboll said. “He’s going to get a lot of reps this spring, he needs to learn our system, but again excited to get Daniel back, when he gets back he’ll be the guy.”

Lock appears to be a bridge until Jones is healthy
It appears the Giants signed Lock as an interim starter until Jones can return more than for the team to have a quarterback battle this fall. The Giants can ask Lock to be a competent starter and not ask Jones to return to the field too quickly and risk further injury.

The Giants could make Lock’s and Jones’ jobs easier this season if they take a wide receiver with the No. 6 pick in the draft. But that could hinge on what quarterback is on the board when they pick.

Daboll’s statements undermine reports coming out earlier this offseason that the Giants were “done” with Jones.