Insider addresses theory about Giants ownership, Daniel Jones

Shortly after it was learned Monday that the New York Giants were benching quarterback Daniel Jones likely through the end of the season, some fans posting on social media revisited an often-shared theory that claims Giants co-owner John Mara essentially forced general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll to sign Jones to a new four-year contract in March 2023. 

Giants insider Dan Duggan of The Athletic responded to such takes for a piece published Tuesday. 

"Ownership didn’t prevent the new regime from declining Jones' $22.4M fifth-year option for the 2023 season within months of being hired," Duggan explained. "Fast-forwarding to this offseason, it was abundantly clear Mara wanted to retain running back Saquon Barkley. But even coming off a 6-11 season, Schoen stood his ground and let Barkley walk in free agency to the Philadelphia Eagles, which was Mara’s nightmare scenario. So to buy the theory that ownership forced Schoen and Daboll to extend Jones, one has to believe they went against ownership’s wishes immediately after they were hired and again coming off a losing season but not when their equity was at its highest after a playoff win."

It's easy to understand why Schoen would've believed after Jones' first season playing under Daboll that the 27-year-old would continue to improve. Jones finished the 2022 campaign with a 9-6-1 record en route to guiding the Giants to a playoff berth, and ESPN stats show he ended that regular season ranked sixth among qualified players with a 62.9 adjusted QBR. In the postseason victory at the Minnesota Vikings, Jones passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 78 rushing yards. 

Schoen tried to extend Barkley from the fall of 2022 up until Jones accepted what will ultimately become a two-year contract that allowed the Giants to retain Barkley's rights for 2023 via the non-exclusive franchise tag. Jones has since gone 3-13 as a starter, and he suffered multiple injury setbacks before he played poorly enough this fall to be benched in favor of 2023 undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito.

"Even if re-signing Jones complied with ownership’s wishes, Schoen and Daboll have to own the quarterback’s failures the past two seasons," Duggan added. 

That last part is important, considering the 2-8 Giants may have to win at least three of their final seven games with either DeVito or primary backup Drew Lock in the lineup for Schoen and Daboll to hold onto their jobs beyond Week 18. 

As of late Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed New York as a 5.5-point underdog for this coming Sunday's home game versus the 4-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.