NFL Exec: Malik Nabers Can’t ‘Save’ Giants’ Daniel Jones After Saquon Barkley Exit

Adam WellsMay 2, 2024

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Even though the New York Giants fans are excited about what Malik Nabers will add to their offense, at least one NFL executive is skeptical his presence will do much for Daniel Jones.

Per The Athletic’s Mike Sando, an anonymous league executive said Nabers “can’t save” Jones, “not without (Saquon) Barkley.”

One year after signing a four-year, $160 million contract, Jones is facing a potential make-or-break season with the Giants. His 2023 was a mess with 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in six games before he tore his ACL in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

There were rumors the Giants were trying to trade up in the first round of the draft to select a quarterback.

Instead, New York stayed in the No. 6 spot to take Nabers. Even though the Giants didn’t draft a quarterback, there’s no guarantee Jones is going to be the starter when the 2024 season begins.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said on Wednesday his belief is Drew Lock has a “good shot” to beat out Jones as the top quarterback on New York’s depth chart.

Gregg Rosenthal @greggrosenthalHere’s @movethesticks on Giants: “I believe Drew Lock has a really good shot on winning that job. … They were comparing Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, emphasis on Drew Lock, to the QBs that were going to be there (at 6) and the line for them was Drake Maye.” Hoo boy!

This came after Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said on Seattle Sports Radio 710AM (h/t NFL.com’s Kevin Patra) earlier this offseason that Lock was told by the Giants he was sold on joining them as a free agent by being told he will have the “opportunity to compete to be the starter.”

Giants head coach Brian Daboll has consistently said the expectation is Jones will be the starter when he’s healthy. The 26-year-old will almost certainly be on their roster this season, but the guaranteed money on his deal ends after 2024.

The Giants could save up to $30.5 million against the 2025 cap if Jones is released next offseason.

There’s an argument Nabers is already the best receiver who has been on the Giants’ roster in Jones’ career. Darius Slayton has been their leading receiver in four of the past five seasons, with Kenny Golladay being the other player to do it during that span in 2021.

B/R’s Derrik Klassen noted Nabers’ “combination of speed, quickness and yards-after-the-catch skills will translate into explosive plays right away.”

That may not be enough to turn Jones into a viable starting quarterback whom the Giants want to commit to beyond 2024, but it does make their offense more difficult to gameplan for this season after scoring the second-fewest points in the league in 2023.