With the New York Giants latest signing of quarterback B.J. Daniels, could he be a viable option on the team’s opening day roster?
By Jack Aylmer
The New York Giants have signed quarterback B.J. Daniels after the veteran tried for the team during their rookie minicamp, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
In a corresponding move, the team released already signed undrafted free agent signal caller Josh Woodrum out of Liberty University. Woodrum’s release came as a bit of a surprise, especially after New York handed him a hefty $20,000 guarantee in his UDFA deal.
Wether or not the Giants choose to carry three quarterbacks in 2016 remains to be seen.
Last year New York kept only Eli Manning and Ryan Nassib on their 53-man roster, but with Nassib entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Giants could be preparing themselves for the possibility the former Syracuse Orangeman may leave for a shot at a starting gig next offseason.
A Nassib exodus is well within the world of possibility in today’s quarterback needy NFL.
With the Denver Broncos actually trading to acquire the services of Mark Sanchez and Brock Osweiler‘s $72 million with the Houston Texans, Nassib could be in line to earn himself a sizable pay-day, even if he doesn’t see the field once in 2016.
While he’s only played in five career regular season games, Nassib did have a strong outing late during last season’s 49-17 meltdown loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
He completed all five of his passes for 68 yards, one touchdown, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating in that game.
It’s not even large enough to be considered anything more than a couple great throws during garbage time play, but the league’s ever-growing demand for quarterbacks could result in Nassib getting offered a deal that far from corresponds with his career on field numbers.
Teams will pay good money for “potential” – cue Matt Flynn, Matt Cassel, and Brandon Weeden. The Giants are wise to jump the gun and take a look at potential cheap replacement options to back up Manning as he rides out the tail end of his career, should Nassib bolt in 2017.
This is part of the reason the Woodrum release comes as a bit of a head scratcher.
His solid skill set as a dual threat quarterback combined with his passing accuracy made it the general assumption he would be on the 90-man roster come OTAs.
The 6’3″ and 225 lbs Woodrum completed 63.9 percent of his passes at Liberty for 10,266 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions.
He also ran the ball 228 times for 424 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Flames. Still, the Giants have chosen to go with the NFL veteran over the undrafted rookie as their third arm in camp.
Daniels, 26, was a member of the Texans last season, having also made stops with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
He’s an athletic player, having been used at both quarterback and wide receiver throughout his NFL career.
The former Super Bowl Champion threw his first two career regular season NFL passes for the Texans last season, completing one for seven yards while also rushing six times for six yards.
Daniels was a stud during his collegiate career with the University of South Florida from 2008-2012, yet he did not match or better Woodrum’s college numbers.
The Bulls quarterback threw for 8,433 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions on a 57.3 completion percentage.
The 49ers 2013 seventh round selection did however have a leg up on his Liberty counterpart in the ground game, as he rushed for 2,068 yards and 25 touchdowns on 526 carries.
The Giants could very well opt to bring in another undrafted free agent who was cut or tried out for another team in the coming weeks.
Daniels’ spot on the roster is far from guaranteed as he could either be waived at any time for a prospect that New York likes better, quarterback or otherwise.
It will just be interesting to monitor how both Big Blue and Ryan Nassib approach the impending free agency of the current number two man under center.
