The truth about Seahawks GM’s bombshell Drew Lock-Giants claim
It is a heckuva story. A bombshell, really.
If only it were true.
No, the Giants did not — repeat, did not — entice Drew Lock to sign with them by telling him he would come in and compete with Daniel Jones for the starting quarterback job.
Lock on Tuesday agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million — all guaranteed — to fill the traditional role of a backup quarterback. That is how the Giants presented this opportunity to Lock, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
And that is precisely what Lock said on Friday.
“Daniel Jones is the starter of this team,’’ Lock said after signing his contract at the Giants facility. “That’s been conveyed to me.’’
Seems simple enough.
“Now, I need to come in and push Daniel to be the best that he can be,’’ Lock added. “I’ve had both sides of this. I’ve been the guy to push a starter, I’ve been the starter that’s being pushed by the backups. It’s about making that room the best it can be. If we can do that, the sky’s the limit for this team.’’
The ball got rolling on this “Lock is coming to compete for a starting job with the Giants’’ canard when John Schneider, the Seahawks general manager, went on 710 Seattle Sports radio on Thursday and said the Giants “basically sold him on the opportunity to compete to be the starter.”
Lock played for the Seahawks the past two seasons.
Schneider went on to say Lock looks at this opportunity with the Giants similar to how Baker Mayfield in 2023 signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers to compete for the starting job.
Mayfield received a one-year deal worth $4 million — plus $4.5 million in incentives — and beat out Kyle Trask for the No. 1 quarterback spot.
Mayfield guided the Bucs to a record of 9-8, good enough to win the NFC South and also thrashed the Eagles in a playoff game, earning Mayfield a three-year, $100 million contract.
Why did Schneider say all this? Who knows? Lock said he had one conversation with Schneider after the decision was made to come to the Giants.
Lock said he thanked Schneider for the opportunity in Seattle and made no mention of competing for a starting job with the Giants.
“That’s really where it got left,’’ Lock said. “He asked me if it was a one- or two-[year contract]. “I said, ‘It’s a one.’ He said, ‘awesome.’ He said, ‘You were great for us and appreciate all you did for us.’ That’s all the words I had for him in that conversation.’’
The Seahawks wanted to re-sign Lock, who started two games in 2023.
One was memorable, a “Monday Night Football’’ 20-17 comeback victory over the Eagles, with Lock directing a 92-yard fourth quarter drive, hitting rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the game-deciding touchdown.
Lock, 27, opted to not return to the Seahawks. Schneider pivoted and on Thursday traded with the Commanders to acquire Sam Howell, who will either compete with Smith for the starting job or serve as Smith’s backup.
There were massive changes in Seattle.
Longtime head coach Pete Carroll was let go, as was the offensive staff. Lock figured wherever he played in 2024 it would be a whole bunch of unfamiliarity. He opted to come to the Giants.
“One, the New York Giants are an iconic franchise,’’ he said. “Me and Daniel have a great relationship. [Brian] Daboll is a wizard with quarterbacks. There’s a lot of those reasons that I came here.’’
Jones and Lock are products of the 2019 NFL Draft. Lock said he got to know Jones at the Senior Bowl that year when they were assigned as roommates in Mobile, Ala.
“I remember both of us sitting there with our books late at night,’’ Lock said. “It was like, all right, who is going to fall asleep first? Who is going to beat the other guy, saying I studied more that night? I had a lot of fun that week. Built my relationship with him. Being able to come now and have a relationship with him here, it’s pretty cool.’’
Jones is currently rehabbing from reconstructive knee surgery and Lock now joins Tommy DeVito as the two fully healthy quarterbacks on the roster.
Sure, Lock could get plenty of action with the first-team offense in the offseason as Jones continues his recovery.
Lock said he was told to possibly expect a bunch of work this spring during the organized team activities. The Giants believe Jones will be ready to return in time for training camp and that he should be ready for the start of the season.
There is certainly a possibility the Giants take a quarterback high in the upcoming draft. Even if that happens, Jones, if healthy, is expected to be the Week 1 starter.
