Giants news, 4/16: Daniel Jones, Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka on first day of OTAs, more headlines

New York Giants news for Tuesday

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

‘I do, yes’: Daniel Jones still believes he is the best quarterback for the Giants

With much of the offseason intertwined about Daniel Jones health and the organizations approach to the draft, the veteran was asked about the often-discussed possibility the Giants would select a quarterback in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.

“My focus is what I’m doing here with my rehab,” said Jones, entering his sixth season. “The nature of our business, it’s a competitive league, so the best way to handle that I think is to focus on what I’m doing, focus on myself and make sure that I’m healthy and ready to play good football. That’s what I can control. That’s what I can do to help myself, and the team.”

Jones added that “I think you can get into trouble when you try to think too much about some of those things. I’m just focused on what I’m doing.”

From Big Blue View

• Giants’ coach Brian Daboll on weight room changes, mock drafts, more
• Giants’ OC Mike Kafka: ‘I love working with Dabs’
• Draft question of the day: Does Bryce Ford-Wheaton have an impact on Giants’ draft plans?
• Kiper/Yates 3-round mock draft: Giants get a WR and a QB
• Giants draft preview: Day 2 and Day 3 interior offensive line options
• 2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Byron Murphy II, iDL, Texas
• 2024 NFL Draft prospect profiles: Who will be Giants?
• 2024 NFL Draft pro day tracker: Who are the Giants watching?

Other Giant observations

Shane Bowen hopes Giants’ defense will show speed, aggression, and “some violence” | Pro Football Talk

“I’m hoping it’s going to be speed and aggressiveness,” Bowen said. “Regardless of scheme — everybody’s going to have scheme, we’re going to have plenty of scheme — but I want to make sure our guys are lined up, they know what to do, and they can play fast and aggressive ultimately. I want to maximize their abilities. I don’t want to paralyze them before the ball is even snapped by overthinking. They’re all here for a reason. God has blessed them with the skillset to be here. I want to make sure we can maximize that skillset and they’re able to maximize that skillset. But hopefully [it will be] fast, aggressive, you’ll see some violence from us and ultimately guys making plays.”

Head coach Brian Daboll on Day 1 of the offseason program

Swing tackle, guard talent should be on Giants’ O-line checklist | New York Daily News

The Giants seemingly upgraded their offensive line in free agency, especially at guard. But they still have needs up front starting with a position that crippled their offense last season: Swing tackle.

Every NFL Team’s Most Underpaid Player Following Peak 2024 Free Agency | Bleacher Report

New York Giants: LB Micah McFadden. The 2022 fifth-round pick broke out with 101 tackles as a sophomore and will cost the Giants just $2.3 million over the course of the next two seasons.

Brian Burns reports to first day of OTAs with his new team

1 Trade Package Each Team Picking in Top 10 of 2024 NFL Draft Would Have to Consider | Bleacher Report

New York Giants receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 14 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD), 2025 third-round pick (TBD)

New Orleans Saints receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 6 overall)

Rather than accept more 2024 capital, Big Blue should be happy to stockpile 2025 picks in this move. With Jones on the mend and far from certain to return to his 2022 form, the Giants could look to the future and acquire more selections next year, when they’ll have a better chance of having their situation under center sorted out.

Why don’t more NFL prospects try to dictate landing spots? | ESPN

Twenty years later, the idea of a player dictating his own path is still taboo enough that Archie Manning, in a phone conversation earlier this month, wanted to make it clear that he did not orchestrate anything.

“Everybody just assumed that,” Archie says. “I think because I had played, they thought I had ramrodded that thing. I really didn’t. If I had, I would’ve admitted it. That’s not the kind of father I was, to go and spearhead a movement like that…I can remember the first time Eli brought [the idea] up to me. I said, ‘That sounds mighty bold to me.'”

Around the league

CeeDee Lamb not present at start of Cowboys’ voluntary offseason workouts | NFL.com

Eagles extend WR DeVonta Smith through 2028 season | ESPN.com

Washington Commanders name Dave Gardi Senior Vice President of Football Initiatives | Commanders.com

Aaron Rodgers worried injury was ‘career-ending’; calls out ‘attacks’ following VP talks | The Athletic

Jets offer up new twist on classic ‘Sack Exchange’ design with two helmet colors | CBSSports.com

Tagged WR Tee Higgins anticipates playing for Bengals in 2024 | ESPN.com

Top 10 Players Who Could Be Traded During the 2024 NFL Draft Include Aiyuk, Higgins | Pro Football Network

Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze? Stacking NFL Draft’s top 3 WRs | The Athletic

Chiefs HC Andy Reid says Rashee Rice will remotely participate during Phase 1 of offseason work | NFL.com

Justin Jefferson not at first day of Vikings work, overall participation “remains to be seen” | Pro Football Talk

Davante Adams on Raiders – ‘If I wanted to be gone, I’d be gone’ | ESPN.com

Colts agree to two-year, $46 million contract extension with DT DeForest Buckner | NFL.com

Veteran guard Cody Whitehair follows OC Luke Getsy to Raiders | ESPN.com

Geno Smith: Pete Carroll’s firing was a terrible moment I’ll remember forever | Pro Football Talk

Deion Sanders will only allow son Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to play for these six NFL teams in 2025 | CBSSports.com

Eli and Peyton Manning receive extension for ManningCast | Stampede Blue

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