The New York Giants are preparing for wholesale changes on the offensive side of the ball, curated through the NFL draft and free agency.
Quarterback Daniel Jones is at the helm of schematic changes, with new head coach Brian Daboll already forging a relationship and finding his primary strengths to build around.
Jones is an athletic quarterback who is capable of running well in a straight line. He’s not as agile or shifty as Josh Allen up in Buffalo, but his straight-line speed is something to be concerned about if you are a defensive coordinator. Utilizing the zone-read option will likely be a focal point for the Giants next season, but giving Jones more time in the pocket and advanced route concepts are expected given the previous simplicity of Jason Garrett’s scheme.
New offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is coming from a potent Kansas City Chiefs offensive unit led by Patrick Mahomes. Operating under a dynamic West Coast style, Mahomes is given the freedom to move through multiple progressions with solid OL play, but also going off script and making something out of nothing. Jones has been robotic ever since Pat Shurmur departed in 2019, staring down his first reads and failing to move through his progressions appropriately.
Via Bob Papa of Giants.com, Kafka claimed that Jones is “athletic and can make every throw,” which has been the consensus from management since taking over. The former Kansas City assistant also noted that “it’s got to be an 11-man operation.”
While Jones is the catalyst behind making the offense work, they need the OL to play at an average level at least and the receivers to step up and make plays. Both Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay failed to get in the end-zone last season. This embarrassing mark played a significant part in the firing of Garrett midseason and ultimately letting Joe Judge go after the year’s completion.
The Giants are already making quiet moves to bolster their offense, signing Austin Proehl on Tuesday to a reserve/futures deal. At 26 years old, Proehl was previously a seventh-round pick back in 2018 by the Buffalo Bills. It is always a good idea to bring over familiar faces who can help fuel the transition more efficiently. While Proehl likely won’t be an impact plan moving forward, he can help establish the ground rules under Daboll and Schoen with the Giants.