The Giants are an interesting wild card in the top 10. Are they looking to replace Daniel Jones? Or are they more interested in getting him some help, which could potentially involve trading back?

Teams outside the top 10 that are eyeballing quarterbacks – Broncos, Vikings, Raiders – could be either trying to trade above the Giants or perhaps trade with them.

New York signed Daniel Jones is a four-year deal worth $160 million a year ago. With the structure of that contract, the time to get rid of him (should it play out that way) will be in the offseason next year. So the Giants’ strategy could instead revolve around trying to put better pieces around him.

Drafting a Jones replacement, of course, would involve them liking somebody in the draft. Would New York be interested in Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy if either was still around at pick No. 6?

The Giants need a better offensive line (they allowed 85 sacks last year, the 2nd-most ever) and they could use a playmaking wide receiver.

Picking through the numbers from last year, they’re pretty rough. I notice that Jones averaged only 8.4 yards per completion. (Not per attempt, but on throws that were completed – everything was short.) That’s a historically low number.

Since the merger in 1970, 1,751 quarterbacks have completed at least 100 passes in a season. Only one of those guys – last-season Steve McNair on the 2007 Ravens – averaged fewer yards per completion than Jones last year. Pretty brutal.

In the chart below, you’re looking at the worst 40 such quarterbacks since the merger. I notice that the chart illustrates the evolution of the game, with more teams right now attempting more short passes. Six of the quarterbacks listed (tagged with black dots) came from 2023, the most of any season. Another 10 came from the 2020-22 seasons.

Only 3 quarterbacks, on the other hand, came from the ’70s, and none came from the ‘80s. Only 4 came from the ‘90s. More quarterbacks right now are looking to get rid of the ball on shorter, quicker passes.

LOWEST YARDS-PER-COMPLETION (since 1970)
YearPlayerCmpAttYdsYPCTDInt
2007Steve McNair, Balt.13320511138.3724
2023Daniel Jones, NYG1081609098.4226
1998Bobby Hoying, Phil.1142249618.4309
2008Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cin.22137219058.6289
2021Tyler Huntley, Balt.12218810818.8634
2017Joe Flacco, Balt.35254931418.921813
1999Donovan McNabb, Phil.1062169488.9487
2000Doug Pederson, Cle.11721010478.9528
2021Jacoby Brissett, Mia.14122512839.1054
1993Mark Rypien, Was.16631915149.12410
2023• Bryce Young, Car.31552728779.131110
2022Kyler Murray, Ari.25939023689.14147
1999Kordell Stewart, Pitt.16027514649.15610
2006David Carr, Hou.30244227679.161112
2020Nick Foles, Chi.20231218529.17108
2005Jeff Garcia, Det.1021739379.1936
2015Zach Mettenberger, Ten.1011669359.2647
2003Kelly Holcomb, Cle.19330217979.311012
2003Joey Harrington, Det.30955428809.321722
2006Bruce Gradkowski, T.B.17732816619.3899
2014Derek Carr, Oak.34859932709.402112
2023• Joshua Dobbs, 2TM26241724649.401310
2020Alex Smith, Was.16825215829.4268
2000Shane Matthews, Chi.1021789649.4536
2023• Joe Burrow, Cin.24436523099.46156
2023• Mac Jones, N.E.22434521209.461012
1975Gary Huff, Chi.11420510839.5039
2020Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.39960838039.533310
2018Jeff Driskel, Cin.10517610039.5562
2022Joe Flacco, NYJ11019110519.5553
1976Joe Namath, NYJ11423010909.56416
2017Brett Hundley, G.B.19231618369.56912
2022Tom Brady, T.B.49073346949.58259
2021Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.39060537409.592210
1973Dan Pastorini, Hou.15429014829.62517
2019Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.32651631389.631710
2005Anthony Wright, Balt.16426615829.6569
2020Mike Glennon, Jac.11117910729.6675
2023• Tommy DeVito, NYG11417811019.6683
2007Brodie Croyle, K.C.12722412279.6666

—Ian Allan