When the New York Giants selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, social media exploded with frustration, disappointment and bewilderment.
Some of the writers on this site (present company included), ripped general manager Dave Gettleman for squandering another draft opportunity.
15 months later, Jones is the focal point of a possible Giants’ resurgence and, even in this age of coronavirus, has the collective imaginations of Giant fans running wild. It’s not just the fans who are think big these days, either. The media is taking notice of Jones.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports thinks Jones, not Arizona’s Kyler Murray, will be the player who has an “MVP-like breakout” in 2020.
“What if, however, there’s another second-year quarterback who’s just as, if not more, likely to enjoy an MVP-level breakout?” asks Benjamin. “And what if he happens to play for the New York Giants?”
Benjamin goes on by illustrating that Jones played his rookie season under some very trying circumstances. First, he had the unenviable task of replacing the monolithic Eli Manning and then tried to rally an offense that never had its full compliment of weapons on the field at the same time.
“In 13 games, 12 of which he started, the 23-year-old quarterback posted 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and an 87.7 passer rating, completing nearly 62 percent of his throws,” writes Benjamin. “Right off the bat, that means Jones came within four touchdown passes of breaking the all-time rookie record, which Baker Mayfield set in 2018.”
Jones’ rookie year, prorated to 16 games equates to 29 touchdown passes, 3,725 yards, 15 interceptions with a 61.9 completion percentage for a QB rating of 87.7. The 29 touchdown passes far outdistance the freshman campaigns of Dak Prescott, Murray, Lamar Jackson and Carson Wentz.
In 14 games last season, Patrick Mahomes tossed just two more TD passes than Jones did in 13 games.
This year, Benjamin points out that Jones could be “set to be uncorked by Jason Garrett’s pass-heavy offense” and cites the Giants’ supporting cast as another reason to keep Jones on your radar.
“Jones still has a strong set of weapons if they can stay healthy — Barkley is a top-three RB, Darius Slayton has emerged as a legitimate big-play threat out wide, and Golden Tate remains a strong No. 2 wide receiver. (You might even be able to argue that left tackle Nate Solder opting out of the 2020 season is more good news for Jones, depending on the progress of first-round pick Andrew Thomas),” Benjamin added.
The fact the Giants have been near the NFL basement with a 12-36 record over the past three years is to their advantage. No one is expecting much from them again this season but Benjamin is right, they could be the surprise of the NFL in 2020 and if that happens, expect Jones to be a major reason why.
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