Why isn’t Drew Lock the Giants’ new starting quarterback?

Aug 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers won 32-25. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It’s one thing for the New York Giants to bench Daniel Jones. They’re ready to move on from him and don’t want to be forced into paying him for next season if he gets hurt. But there is another question related to their quarterback situation that doesn’t make sense: Why isn’t Drew Lock the team’s new starter?

Lock is a former second-round pick and has started 23 career games. He also was given $5 million by the Giants this offseason. Tommy DeVito, who is the team’s new starter, is an undrafted free agent who started 6 games for the team last season. DeVito began his Giants career as a phenomenon like “Linsanity” before crashing back to Earth as the season went on.

Lock is the more experienced quarterback and seemingly the more logical choice to start. So why aren’t the 2-8 Giants going with him? That may come down to a few reasons.

One, nobody would accuse the Giants of tanking the rest of the season, but they probably wouldn’t be opposed to landing a very high draft pick for 2025.

Two, Lock has several financial incentives tied to playing time and performance. He is contractually owed $250,000 each if he plays 40%, 50%, 60% + plus, of the Giants’ snaps.

Part of the reason Drew Lock isn't the #Giants QB for the next 7 weeks… pic.twitter.com/qmZaYcsNLE

— Spotrac (@spotrac) November 18, 2024

Lock might not earn any of that bonus money, but keeping him as a second-string option behind DeVito for the moment should make it extremely difficult to achieve those marks.

Lock himself seemed to wonder what was going on with the quarterback depth chart.

“That’s a question that I might still have for myself. It was expressed to me that I was going to be QB2. Interesting situation,” Lock told reporters on Wednesday.

Drew Lock is asked about not being named the starting quarterback after Daniel Jones was benched when he was told he'd be the backup:

"That's a question that I might still have for myself. It was expressed to me that I was going to be QB2. Interesting situation.." pic.twitter.com/gFpj8SA0oc

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 20, 2024

With DeVito as QB1 and Lock as the backup, Tim Boyle has been made third string, which drops Jones to 4th on the depth chart.

The Giants seem to be done with 2024 and have their eye on the future — and lessening costs where possible.