Could — or should — this be the end of Daniel Jones in a Giants uniform?
Daniel Jones is performed for the season. Will he ever suit up for the Giants again?
The 2021 season has prematurely concluded for Daniel Jones. The 3rd-12 months Giants quarterback endured a neck sprain back in the 7 days twelve win above Philly and skipped the following 3 game titles right before the crew resolved to shut him down for the relaxation of the 12 months on Monday.
This begun a discussion about Jones’ extended-phrase overall health he’s now dealt with accidents in every of his 3 experienced seasons and a neck harm is not anything to consider lightly.
It also ignited a discussion relating to irrespective of whether or not we have witnessed the previous of the 2019 first-spherical select in a Giants uniform.
There are plenty of arguments for and in opposition to the Giants continuing their determination to Jones at the position. Let us get into some of the pros and cons.
DJ’s obvious troubles
This is a quarterback-driven league. You need a big-video game participant at that position — these types of as the Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers sort — to triumph.
The Giants really don’t possess 1, irrespective of whether you believe that it or not.
Jones has always been the turnover-prone, error-prone participant that is not able of portraying two of the most critical qualities that a quarterback (or any NFL participant) can portray: regularity and availability.
In regard to the latter, Jones has skipped game titles in every of his first 3 seasons. A large-ankle sprain led to him lacking a pair of matchups in 2019 even though a further large-ankle sprain and hamstring harm brought about him to sit out two more game titles the following 12 months.
This 12 months, the overall health troubles have been at an all-time large for Jones in his NFL tenure. By season’s stop, he’ll have skipped 6 typical-season game titles — just above 35% of the team’s seventeen whole matchups.
The regularity (or deficiency thereof) is moreover a key challenge. Jones commenced the season throwing for at minimum 250 yards in 3 of four game titles (with 1 efficiency sitting down at 249 yards). He then, nevertheless, unsuccessful to toss for at minimum 250 yards in his 7 subsequent appearances.
There’s also the turnover challenge — the back-breaking turnover challenge these impatient followers all know and hate.
Jones has 36 fumbles (twenty dropped) in 38 occupation game titles. To make matters worse, DJ has moreover thrown 29 picks in those 38 game titles.
That is no way to win, something Daniel hasn’t performed substantially of possibly. Jones has a occupation history of just twelve-25 as a starter.
Not all his fault?
You can make the argument several of the problems haven’t been Jones’ executing, nevertheless.
When the Giants have seemingly figured out the ever-critical still left tackle position (Andrew Thomas has been magnificent this 12 months), Jones has but to be graced with consistent safety from a potent offensive line.
Accidents, lousy offseason transactions and drafting, and wrongful participant evaluation have led to the Giants dealing with several troubles within just that distinct device for a number of several years.
Jones has also dealt with a number of offensive participate in-callers since getting into the league. When he succeeded below former Giants head mentor Pat Shurmur in the course of a promising rookie marketing campaign (24 touchdown passes and twelve interceptions in 13 whole game titles), now-former offensive coordinator Jason Garrett hindered Jones’ growth with his conservative solution to the artwork of participate in-calling.
You can also attribute Jones’ struggles to the deficiency of guidance surrounding him. He has hardly played with working back Saquon Barkley on a dependable basis (Barkley skipped 3 game titles in 2019, fourteen game titles in 2020, and sat out four game titles previously this season).
Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Evan Engram, Kenny Golladay, and Kadarius Toney have also dealt with accidents in 2021.
Jones hasn’t been in the circumstance that, say, Mac Jones has been in with the Patriots or Patrick Mahomes has been in with the Chiefs — not even close.
I’m not saying Jones is at the expertise degree of a Mahomes, but it is not like DJ has been overly blessed with extraordinary support since getting into the league.
The Verdict
I recognize there are arguments both equally in support and in opposition to Jones. I also recognize there are plenty of exterior causes/excuses for Jones as perfectly.
Here’s the bottom line: if you’re continue to speaking about irrespective of whether Jones is the extended-phrase response approximately 3 several years immediately after he was drafted, he’s possibly not the dude.
You must consider the big photo into account: the Giants need a new way immediately after struggling at minimum ten losses for a fifth straight season.
There needs to be a clear sweep in East Rutherford.
Dave Gettleman‘s departure is unavoidable — Daniel Jones and Joe Judge need to adhere to him. A new basic supervisor is anticipated to be in town, and possession simply cannot hinder the growth of the franchise by forcing a relationship involving that basic supervisor and Judge/Jones.
The Giants must swap out all 3 fellas. The good news is, they will have a few various strategies of obtaining Daniel’s replacement…
2022 QB Selection No. 1: The 2022 NFL Draft
The Giants could benefit from possibly of their two first-spherical draft picks to deal with the challenge. Both choice is anticipated to be in the prime ten thanks to the struggles surrounding both equally the Giants and Bears, who traded their select to Big Blue to shift up and draft quarterback Justin Fields previous offseason.
Options in the draft may possibly incorporate Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, Ole Overlook quarterback Matt Corral, and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis.
No, it is not a potent quarterback class, and there is the prospect the Giants could drop in appreciate with only 1 of the 3 aforementioned names. Not to point out, a number of groups in entrance of the Giants on the draft board could probably find a sign-caller on the night of the first spherical.
The purchase is definitely subject to change, but if the season were being to stop currently, the Giants would have the No. 5 and six total picks. The Jets, Texans, Lions, and Jaguars would respectively possess the No. 4, 3, 2, and 1 picks.
The Jets and Jaguars will not be in the quarterback market thanks to their 2021 picks of Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence.
The Texans determine to be in the market for a sign-caller even though thanks to the ongoing Deshaun Watson circumstance and the on-subject uncertainty surrounding rookie Davis Mills.
It is unclear if the Lions will seek out a new quarterback. You might imagine they need a new way provided their huge struggles this season, but at the exact time, Jared Goff carries an high priced contract that consists of a cap strike of $31.15 million and dead cap strike of $thirty.5 million subsequent 12 months.
He has a prospective out in the offer in 2023 even though, so an prospect continue to exists for Detroit to draft a quarterback in 2022, build them subsequent season, section strategies with Goff immediately after the 2022 marketing campaign, and subsequently shift ahead with that 2022 draftee.
Getting explained all that, the Giants’ odds of having a quarterback they appreciate could slip away early in the first spherical, which brings us to the subsequent option…
Selection No. 2: A Bridge Quarterback
Due to the fact this upcoming quarterback draft class doesn’t determine to be a potent 1 in comparison to many others, the Giants could indicator a veteran quarterback as a bridge to 2023, when they could subsequently draft an individual to be their quarterback of the future.
The free of charge agency market is fluid and there are always bombshell moves and studies, so it is unclear what may possibly take place about 3 months from now. But the Giants could contemplate a 1-12 months offer for a dude like Jameis Winston or Teddy Bridgewater, both equally of whom possess expiring contracts.
Cam Newton could’ve been an alternative, but his struggles with Carolina this season have probable turned several off (the veteran has recorded only a sixty seven.8 passer score in 5 game titles this 12 months).
Then, we have the prospective blockbuster option…
Selection No. 3: Trade for Russell Wilson
With the Seahawks getting solidified their first shedding season since the commencing of the Russell Wilson period (2012), it is obvious Seattle might be in rebuild method and may possibly look to trade its franchise quarterback, who could want out anyway.
Studies condition Wilson, who has a no-trade clause in his present-day contract, would ponder waiving that clause if the Giants were being to make a shift.
🚨 Resources: Russell Wilson would strongly contemplate waiving his no-trade clause for the #Giants, #Broncos and #Saints. pic.twitter.com/40Eude2zEP
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 8, 2021
As for the prospective expense for the longtime Seahawks quarterback, the Giants would possibly have to give up at minimum two first-spherical picks along with other property. Supplied Wilson’s age (he just turned 33) and the actuality he hasn’t been continuously excellent since midway by way of previous 12 months, it wouldn’t expense 3 first-rounders to land his services.
The Giants could give up the first of their 2022 opening-spherical picks, their 2022 next-spherical select, their 2023 first-spherical select, and Jones (barring any sign he has a severe extended-phrase neck harm) for Wilson.
That way, Big Blue would be attaining an established dynamic quarterback that could thrive with some of the items close to him (Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and probably Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton). The Seahawks, on the other hand, would be attaining picks to support in a rebuild as perfectly as Jones, who would continue to be on his rookie offer and could probably be utilised as a bridge to a quarterback drafted in 2023.
New York would need to obvious a excellent offer of cap room to pull it off even though — Wilson’s contract consists of cap hits of $37 million and $40 million in 2022 and 2023. As well as, if this strategy were being to perform out for the Giants, the probable expectation is they would need to re-indicator Wilson to a further offer at some point down the road.
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