Three questions the Giants must answer at the NFL Scouting Combine

It is officially combine week and the New York Giants are among several teams with a number of questions to address as they evaluate the participating prospects. With that in mind, here are the three most important questions Giants GM Joe Schoen needs to answer at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. 

Is Daniel Jones the team's best quarterback option for the future? 

While it's fair to argue that quarterback isn't New York's most pressing need ahead of April's draft, the team must determine if it truly has its franchise guy in Jones. Despite signing Jones to a four-year, $160M contract extension last March, the Giants can cut ties with him next offseason and save $30.5M in cap space by designating him as a post-June 1 release.

Although Jones was solid in 2022, when he led the Giants to their first playoff win since Super Bowl XLVI, his lackluster, injury-shortened 2023 season added to the list of concerns surrounding him. A neck injury and season-ending ACL tear limited Jones to just six games this past season, during which he threw for just 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions. 

Given Jones' underwhelming track record and extensive injury history, it might be best to see what HC Brian Daboll can do with a rookie quarterback. Not only was Daboll integral in developing Bills QB Josh Allen, but he had more success in 2023 with journeyman Tyrod Taylor and UDFA Tommy DeVito at the helm than with Jones. The Giants won't be in play for USC signal-caller Caleb Williams, though they could be a potential destination for UNC's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels or Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

Should New York hold onto the sixth overall pick?

The Giants' decision at quarterback will directly influence this question, as they could opt to aggressively trade up for their long-term starter or move back and collect additional draft capital to expedite their rebuilding process. Obviously, there will be plenty of players capable of filling some of New York's needs available at the sixth overall pick, so the team can comfortably hold onto the selection.

However, if there's a quarterback prospect (such as Maye or Daniels) that the Giants become infatuated with during the pre-draft process, the franchise must determine if moving up is worth the cost. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah recently told reporters that the Giants might have to offer the New England Patriots the sixth overall selection and three second-round picks to move up to the third overall selection.

That would be a reasonable price, but trading up to take the wrong quarterback would be worse than simply drafting a bust in the first round – just ask the Carolina Panthers. It will be up to Schoen to decide if Maye or Daniels merit taking this kind of risk. If they don't, New York could easily just upgrade its receiving corps with the sixth pick or even trade back a few spots and address the quarterback position by drafting McCarthy. 

Does this year's running back class instill enough confidence to move on from Saquon Barkley? 

Barkley, the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, is the Giants' most notable impending free agent for the second consecutive offseason after playing the 2023 campaign on a one-year, adjusted franchise tag. New York can franchise tag Barkley again, but Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano reports that such an outcome is not expected to occur this time around. 

Running back is one of, if not the most, replaceable positions in the sport so it makes sense if the Giants don't want to pay a premium for an aging Barkley, who racked up 1,242 all-purpose yards during the past season. Even so, with this year's class lacking a blue-chip running back prospect, New York must be certain it can find a viable successor to Barkley in the draft. Otherwise, the team may be better off bringing him back on a short-term deal.