Giants starting QB odds: Is it Daniel Jones' job to lose?
The Giants, with one playoff appearance in the last seven years, are entering another pivotal season, and quarterback questions are at the heart of New York's 2025 campaign. This will be Daniel Jones' sixth year with the organization.
Jones had his best season in 2022. He played 16 games, made his first and only playoff appearance, and subsequently earned a contract extension.
But the Duke alum then played in just six games in 2023, amassing a 1-5 record with two touchdowns and six interceptions before tearing his ACL in early November.
The Giants earned the sixth pick in the 2024 draft as a result of the forgettable season, and many speculated they would draft Jones' replacement. However, New York didn't draft a play-caller.
Five quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, but New York drafted Malik Nabers, a high-upside wide receiver, to provide Jones with more offensive firepower in an offseason where running back Saquon Barkley left in free agency and tight end Darren Waller retired.
There's not much question about who will start Week 1 for the Giants, and this season will likely determine Jones' future with the team.
Giants Week 1 starting QB odds| Player | Odds | Implied prob. |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Jones | -455 | 82% |
| Drew Lock | +290 | 25% |
Odds via theScore Bet
The Giants signaled that they're giving Jones another chance by passing on drafting a quarterback. So, it wouldn't make sense to bench him for Drew Lock, a career backup quarterback who's had some impressive moments.
Jones will start Week 1 if he's healthy. He spent the offseason rehabbing his ACL and said he'll be "ready to go" for the first training camp practice on July 24. As a result, oddsmakers are giving Jones an 82% chance of starting Week 1.
New York has the worst odds to win a daunting NFC East (+1300) and a 6.5 win total. But Jones doesn't deserve all the responsibility for the franchise's shortcomings. The Giants have failed to surround him with the necessary pieces for a quarterback to succeed, including a stout offensive line and playmakers on the outside.
The Giants haven't had a receiver come close to 1,000 receiving yards in a season since they drafted Jones. They're hoping Nabers can buck that trend, as the LSU product should provide some playmaking in the absence of Barkley.
Beyond Nabers, however, New York lacks weapons. It downgraded at running back and tight end, and it has the NFL's fourth-worst offensive line, per PFF.
This season is supposed to be a fair evaluation of Jones, but it might not be different than years past, when Jones received the blame (some deserved) despite a poorly constructed roster.
All the pressure is on Jones to perform well enough to convince the Giants to stick with him beyond 2024. He has spent his career running behind a poor offensive line, but the Giants might finally run away from him if he produces another disappointing year.
The season would have to go severely south for Lock to replace a healthy Jones. For now, Jones will take the reins for another uphill battle.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.
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