New York Giants won't exercise 5th-year option on QB Daniel Jones

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The New York Giants have decided to decline the fifth-year option on quarterback Daniel Jones, according to a source. It would have guaranteed the starting quarterback $22.39 million.

The Giants picked up the fifth-year option on Dexter Lawrence's contract. The 17th overall pick in the draft is guaranteed $10.8 million over the course of three seasons.

Jones was the sixth overall pick in the draft. While the Giants think he can be their quarterback in the future, he hasn't shown it consistently on the field. Jones has missed games because of injury in each of his first three professional seasons and has thrown just 21 touchdown passes in the past two seasons combined.

Jones had a career high in touchdown passes as a rookies.

The decision on the young quarterback was obvious because of that. The Giants didn't want to guarantee Jones more than $20 million before they saw him perform consistently at a level where there was no doubt that he was a franchise quarterback. They have high hopes, but they have not been able to do it in the first three seasons.

The cautionary tale of the Carolina panthers and Sam Darnold was mentioned by the general manager. After the Carolinas traded for him and picked up his fifth-year option before he ever played a game for the team, he is guaranteed $18.9 million this season. Carolina spent this winter trying to land an upgrade at the quarterback position and are stuck with Darnold.

Baker Mayfield had his fifth-year option picked up last year, and Cleveland is in the same situation.

The Giants have high hopes for Jones and have confidence in him. If he performs well, they can use the franchise tag next year at around $30 million or sign Jones to a long-term deal. They do not feel the need to make any commitments.

Despite signing veteran Tyrod Taylor to a two-year deal, the Giants have high expectations despite the fact that Jones will remain the starter to begin this season.

John Mara said earlier this year that they feel Daniel can play. We keep changing offensive line coaches. I have a lot of responsibility for that. Let's bring in the right group of coaches now and give him some continuity and try to rebuild the offensive line and then make an intelligent evaluation of whether he can be the franchise quarterback or not.

Mara believed that the Giants had their own quarterback. If Jones doesn't pan out, Taylor could potentially serve as an inexpensive bridge option since he is signed for $5.5 million next year.

Lawrence is a three-year starter in the middle of the Giants defense. He had 52 tackles and 2.5 sacks.