East Rutherford, New Jersey — The New York Giants are experiencing a franchise-record 10 consecutive losses, highlighting their urgent need for a young quarterback. In contrast, rookie Michael Penix Jr. demonstrated the potential a young signal-caller could bring, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a decisive 34-7 victory over the struggling Giants. This impressive performance showcased Penix, the eighth overall pick in the draft, as he navigated his first career start with near perfection, further emphasizing New York’s need to reassess their quarterback situation.
The Giants’ decision in 2019 to select Daniel Jones as their franchise quarterback has not yielded the results they had hoped for. Although there was a glimpse of success during the 2022 season—where Jones had a breakout year and guided New York to a playoff spot—the overall performance has not met expectations. With Jones now released, the Giants currently stand at 2-13, lacking a suitable replacement capable of fulfilling the demands of a starting quarterback in the NFL. In recent games, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock have shared the quarterback duties, but both players have struggled to ignite the league’s least effective offense, with Lock specifically contributing to the downfall against the Falcons through critical mistakes.
To improve next season, finding a quarterback must be a priority for the Giants. Head Coach Brian Daboll emphasized the importance of this decision on Monday, indicating his desire for a significant change. As the team prepares for the upcoming draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the end of April, they are poised for a high selection that could potentially be the top pick overall. However, making the right choice will prove challenging, as no standout quarterbacks have emerged in the 2025 draft class. The organization must carefully assess their options instead of feeling pressured to choose hastily. If they believe that players like Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, or Jalen Milroe can step up as franchise leaders, they may be inclined to trade to address other critical areas within the team.
Even if the Giants choose to pursue a quarterback later in the draft, they are likely to uncover talent that outshines their current roster. As the regular season approaches its conclusion in less than two weeks, the team faces the reality that they must make substantial changes.
While there are elements that continue to function, such as the calendar moving towards the end of the season, the Giants’ franchise is in a state of disarray. Coach Daboll’s position appears precarious due to the ongoing losing streak and consecutive seasons of failure. General Manager Joe Schoen and co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch also share the responsibility for the current predicament, given their roles in hiring the coach and GM.
On a positive note, linebacker Darius Muasau is gaining recognition. The sixth-round draft choice from UCLA has started the last three games since Bobby Okereke’s back injury placed him on injured reserve. Muasau recorded an impressive 11 tackles in the game against Atlanta, along with a quarterback hit and a tackle for a loss, stepping up to make defensive play-calling decisions after fellow linebacker Micah McFadden was sidelined.
In contrast, Lock’s performance has suffered as he has thrown three interceptions that have been returned for touchdowns during his starts. Adding to his struggles, Lock also fumbled during the game and subsequently underwent an MRI for a shoulder injury on Monday. Additional injury concerns loom over the team with safety Jason Pinnock departing due to an eye issue, and center John Michael Schmitz and running back Tyrone Tracy both facing evaluations for ankle injuries.
A pivotal number for the Giants is 1, as a victory by the Raiders over the Jaguars means that the Giants could secure the top overall draft pick with two more losses to conclude the season. This upcoming Sunday, the Giants will seek to secure their first home victory in MetLife Stadium this year, facing off against the Indianapolis Colts. The team has yet to win at home this season, drawing parallels to their only other winless season at home in 1974 when they played at the Yale Bowl during the construction of Giants Stadium.
