ESPN’s NFL Draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay often have differing opinions on NFL prospects, but they could not be more divided on the future of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who was taken No. 6 overall in 2019.
Jones supplanted Giants legend Eli Manning in his rookie season, and in 13 games as a rookie, Jones finished the year with 3,027 passing yards, a 62.1 completion percentage, 24 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 3-9 record as a starter. Jones delivered a few monster performances – most notably throwing for 352 yards and five touchdowns against the Redskins in Week 16 – but turned the ball over a ton, with 11 fumbles lost to go along with his 12 INTs.
McShay has never been a fan of Jones, who he graded as a late second round talent at best. McShay said the Giants made a “big mistake” just after the draft, and it seems that Jones’ performances as a rookie hasn’t swayed McShay at all. Kiper, meanwhile, thought Jones played brilliantly given the circumstances.
During their podcast, ESPN First Draft, Kiper and McShay got into it over Jones’ future – and things got a bit contentious.
Things got heated between McShay and Kiper when it comes to discussing Daniel Jones. Called each other "delusional" pic.twitter.com/pN8WlHwIix
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 21, 2020
Kiper: “[The Giants] have a franchise quarterback, so now they just have to build the line up…”
McShay: “According to Mel Kiper.”
Kiper: “… well, according to anybody that watches the Giants except Todd. And you… let’s face it, you didn’t like him coming in, so you’re going to ride this false narrative through his career. Never give the kid credit…”
McShay: “It is honestly one of the most surprising things, and it shouldn’t be because I’ve worked with you for so long now, going on 15 years. It still is so shocking to me, because I thought this was going to be an easy one. Like ‘yeah, it’s his rookie year, but he clearly didn’t play as well as I thought..'”
Kiper: “He played unbelievable! Todd! Todd!”
McShay: “I just assumed that was going to be the narrative and you were going to come crawling back to me saying ‘I hope year two is better.'”
Kiper: “Are you delusional? You’ve got to be dreaming, delusional or drinking something other than your bottle of water.”
McShay: “I honestly think you’re delusional if we watched the same games.”
Kiper: “If we go back and watched every Giant game and saw the throws he made, I’d say ‘what are you looking at?’ You can say the same to me, tell me I don’t know what the hell I’m looking at?’ Because if I’m looking at the Giants week after week with what he had to deal with, with receivers in and out….”
McShay: “We spend plenty of time alone in that green room. I’d love to watch every single throw… let’s get somebody to cut it up.”
McShay and Kiper locked in a room bickering over Daniel Jones’ viability as a franchise QB for six hours is perfect late-night ESPN2 fare. Make it happen, ESPN.
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