
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is experiencing a meteoric rise – the rookie from Duke was drafted with the number six overall pick to the tune of much controversy, and Jones indeed didn’t appear to be the best option available at the spot with both higher rated quarterbacks and pass rushers available as the Giants’ first pick. But the team took Jones anyway, and Jones picked up plenty of praise through a good training camp and preseason.
Last Sunday, Jones made his first start and led the Giants to their first victory of the season while taking over for Eli Manning, something which put immense pressure on the situation. How many rookies, after all, have to take over for a franchise legend like Manning so early? Jones responded to the pressure well and was the main factor in the team’s victory, with the defense playing poorly and Saquon Barkley leaving the game with an ankle injury.
None of that was able to stop Jones, who will have the eyes of more than just the local media and fans on him as the team goes into his second start this Sunday, this time against the Washington Redskins.
Giants fans, of course, aren’t the only ones who believe in Jones. According to NFL Draft Diamonds, Draft Kings has already made Jones their favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, after only a single game. It’s perhaps a quick judgement to make, but based on Jones’ performance against the Buccaneers, not necessarily an entirely unreasonable one. Not many rookies this season have performed to the tune of four touchdowns.
Where will the hype train go from here? The answer to that depends on how Jones performs in the coming weeks, but if Jones can drag the Giants back up to an even 2-2 record with no Saquon Barkley and a secondary that looks like one of the worst in the league, there might just be merit in saying that there’s not a better rookie player on offense at the current moment.