It’s a giant collapse. The New York Giants are 2-8 heading into a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And they will be doing so with a new signal caller. Big Blue has benched Daniel Jones and named Tommy Devito their starting quarterback. General Manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll face tough questions about their long-term job security. Despite bad personnel moves and the team’s poor play, Schoen is confident he and Daboll will return in 2025.
The buzz around the Giants is that ownership is reluctant to make yet another regime change and appear dysfunctional, so Schoen may be right. However, the Giants can’t fool themselves any longer. They’re in disarray and need a hard reset. There’s only one solution. University of Texas second-string quarterback Arch Manning is the only player who can save the New York Giants again.
Giants Need to Start Planning for Manning Now
Arch Manning has become a hot commodity already despite his limited snaps behind Texas starter Quinn Ewers. He is projected to be the best quarterback prospect in years by some pundits. CBS Sports wrote in September 2024, “Arch Manning has more talent and ability than any of the Manning family members who played quarterback. His style is more similar to Archie for those who remember, but he has more structure as a pocket passer.”
The third-generation quarterback is expected to be a top draft pick in the NFL draft as early as 2026. As Giants fans and viewers of HBO’s Hard Knocks can attest, Big Blue is desperate for their next franchise signal caller. But the organization needs to put the pieces in place now to select Eli Manning’s nephew after next season.
Step one in the Manning sweepstakes will be deciding the immediate fate of Giants’ starter Daniel Jones. According to reports, Jones’ contract includes an injury clause, which would guarantee him $23 million if he is unable to pass a physical in March 2025. Given Jones’ poor performance and injury history, the time was right to bench Jones for the remainder of the season.
But what about next season?
Giants Need to Get Worse Before Getting Better
Step two in prepping for Arch Manning will be deciding who will lead the team through the 2025-26 NFL season. At the end of this NFL year, the Giants would have experienced three consecutive losing seasons. John Mara will need to decide if general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll remain in the organization and help choose their next franchise quarterback.
Daboll’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer may convince Mara to retain his head coach despite all the losses. The Giants have a tougher decision to make about Schoen’s fate.
Step three in the Manning sweepstakes is planning for another losing season in 2026. The Giants may have a top-three draft pick after this season. But the 2025 draft class is not deep at quarterback. Colorado senior Shedeur Sanders is the only quarterback considered a top prospect. The Giants must avoid the temptation to pick their next signal-caller in this draft.
Lastly Giants’ fans must be prepared to lose next season too. Fans should not pressure ownership to make short-term signings at quarterback to try to compete. No calls for Matt Stafford, Trey Lance or Justin Fields. The Giants should hand the starting job over to a career backup such as Gardner Minshew or Mitch Trubisky.
Losing hurts, but all that short-term pain could finally mean a long-term victory. The next great quarterback, Arch Manning, the next Giants savior.
Main Photo Courtesy of Scott Wachter – Imagn Images
