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Key Takeaways From John Mara’s Media Availability

John Mara met with the media for the first time since March, and two days after the final Hard Knocks episode aired.

By Reed Becker

President of the New York Giants, John Mara (left) and New York Giants General Manager, Joe Schoen, speak with New York Giants Head Coach, Brian Daboll, at MetLife Stadium before their team hosts the New England Patriots, Sunday, November 26, 2023.
President of the New York Giants, John Mara (left) and New York Giants General Manager, Joe Schoen, speak with New York Giants Head Coach, Brian Daboll, at MetLife Stadium before their team hosts the New England Patriots, Sunday, November 26, 2023. / Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Decision to Stick With Daniel Jones

Mara admitted to the press (as shown on Hard Knocks) that he was hesitant to trade away future picks in the draft to select a QB. We know that Daboll was fully on board to take Jayden Daniels if he was available and/or the trade-up was reasonable. It is also worth noting that New York was interested in Drake Maye, but New England had no interest in moving down as they also needed a QB.

Other than that, there was not another QB that the Giants truly loved, and as former General Manager Ernie Accorsi said, if you have a chance to grab a QB that will be great, then go get them. In this case, the Giants did not have an Eli Manning feeling in them.

I believe the Giants made the right decision here because as Mara pointed out to the media, this is the best chance for them to see what Daniel Jones can do now that he has an offensive line that Big Blue hopes will be improved, and a true number-one wide receiver in Malik Nabers (something Daniel Jones has not had in his NFL career).

Should Jones fall flat on his face or get injured again, the worst case is the Giants have an out after this season because they can release him before the fifth day of the 2025 league year and before $12 million of his $41.6 million of his 2025 salary becomes guaranteed. While they would save $8.3 million against the cap in 2025, they would still take a $33.3 million dead money hit.

The bottom line with Jones is that other than one good season in 2022-2023 that resulted in a playoff game win in Minnesota, he has been injured three of the five years he has been in the NFL and has not played consistent football year in and year out. At the end of the day, I am not expecting Jones to bounce back, and the Giants will be left with no choice but to move in a different direction at the QB position.

While Mara did not set any specific expectations or ideal record for the season, he would like to see Big Blue make progress by winning more games. It should also give Giants’ fans hope that Mara has been hands-off with the football decisions, leaving Schoen and Daboll to steer the ship as Big Blue gets ready to open their 100th NFL season on September 8 at MetLife Stadium versus the Minnesota Vikings.

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