When the New York Giants selected quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, there were a lot of mixed emotions.
Comparable to former Giants quarterback Eli Manning in many ways and having a similar background, most fans thought he would pan out. No one saw him taking over Eli’s position as quickly as he did, and that is likely the caveat that lands him in his current predicament.
Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report is predicting that Jones will be replaced in 2023.
Entering his fourth season, Jones doesn’t have much to show in the way of success in the NFL. He’s missed eight games over the last two seasons due to injury, and he hasn’t exactly taken care of the ball (29 interceptions and 20 fumbles). Plus Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll opted against picking up Jones’ fifth-year option.
“That indicates they feel Jones is more on the level of Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Both the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers would surely take a do-over in regard to exercising those options, with both players having little trade value at their current salaries,” writes Wharton.
However, this could also be used as a ploy to encourage Jones to play better this season. If he plays well enough, the Giants can still offer him a contract to keep him in blue.
Wharton is right, however. Jones has not shown us that he will ever be more than average, but he’s also on his third head coach in four seasons. Jones may not be the guy for Daboll and Schoen, but he also might be. Not exercising that option doesn’t mean that Jones will be replaced in 2023 as Wharton predicts, but it doesn’t mean he won’t be either.
One thing is certain, though. If Jones wants to continue to play in the NFL, he needs to have a solid 2022 season.
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