The New York Giants suffered another painful loss on Sunday in embarrassing fashion to the New York Jets. The final score was 34-27, which is respectable, but it’s the opponent they lost to that’s hard to stomach.
The New York Jets came into the game with one less win than the Giants, and they were fresh off of a loss to the Miami Dolphins, who are supposedly â€tanking for Tua.†That didn’t stop them from taking down the New York Giants.
With many speculating on job security, both on and off the field, one of the few positive aspects of the 2019 season comes down to draft positioning.
The Giants’ Current Draft Positioning
Currently, The New York Giants are in position for the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
If they were to remain in this position permanently, there’s a chance the team could draft Chase Young, who is considered to be the best pass-rusher in college football.
There’s certainly a chance Chase Young is drafted 1st or 2nd as well. That would leave the team in an interesting situation because, by the process of elimination, one of two quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa or Joe Burrow, would be available for the Giants in the 3rd overall slot in the draft.
While many found the approach of the Arizona Cardinals to be odd or unconventional, it doesn’t look like a wrong move so far. Obviously, that has much to do with Kyler Murray looking like a much better prospect than Josh Rosen. But what if the same could be said for Tagovailoa or Burrow vs. Daniel Jones?
Daniel Jones Has Exceeded All Expectations
Daniel Jones has crushed the expectations so far as a rookie quarterback. His worst flaws have absolutely nothing to do with throwing the ball or accuracy for that matter.
Here are a few impressive marks by the rookie so far:
• 2 games with 4 passing touchdowns, 300+ passing yards, 0 interceptions
• Won his first NFL game with 2 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns, 0 interceptions
• 15/8 touchdown to interception ratio
(just under the ideal 2:1 range)
• 1 or more touchdown passes in all 8 starts
If there were one reason to think Daniel Jones wouldn’t work out as a long-term franchise quarterback, it’s the fumbling.
He’s lost 11 of his total 13 fumbles in just 8 games, but it goes a little deeper than that. It’s an overall reflection of his pocket awareness.
Daniel Jones very selflessly plays the quarterback position. He’s willing to get hit on every single play and looks unphased by the beatings he takes.
Because of this, he doesn’t seem to play with an internal clock. “Living to play another down” is something Eli Manning lived by in recent years, and Daniel needs to learn to do that a little more often.
While strip-sacks are also being counted with fumbles as a ball-carrier, Daniel Jones should be just as aware of pass-rushers and have a feel for how much time is remaining in the pocket more often. Sometimes his patience pays off, but other times it leads to turnovers and drives that can’t be restored.
It’s very unlikely Giants GM Dave Gettleman would quit on Daniel Jones just after one season, which is essentially what he would be doing if he drafted another 1st round quarterback.
But what if ownership brings in a new regime?
If ownership wanted to go in a new direction, that could cause drastic changes. Many times a new regime wants to pick their own quarterback, whether it has to do with the scheme or other preferences.
With Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow shaping up to be top-shelf quarterback prospects, a new GM could field calls on Jones if one of them is available.
The team could possibly get back into the 1st round if they were to trade Jones. Since Josh Rosen was appealing enough for the 62nd overall pick in the 2019 draft, Jones should be worth significantly more. His quarterback rating of 88 is much better than Rosen’s as a rookie which was a 66.
This is hypothetical and highly unlikely unless there was an overhaul on staff. Dave Gettleman is in “full bloom love” with Daniel Jones, and that was before he surpassed the initial expectations. He’s not the one to expect to quit on Jones.
However, if this team cannot collect a handful of wins in November and December, massive changes shouldn’t be out of the question.
IF Daniel Jones has a new staff he must impress, the ball-security and pocket awareness needs to improve for him to have legitimate job-security in New York– especially if a top-shelf quarterback prospect were to stare the team in the face on draft night.