With several team practices under New York Giants top pick Daniel Jones’ belt, it’s time to take a look at how he has performed in such a limited sample size. Jones has shown flashes of ability alongside Eli Manning, primarily playing with the second team.
The 6th overall pick has put his best foot forward in an attempt to not only prove general manager Dave Gettleman right but to prove a majority of the Giants fan-base wrong. He’s a quality passer with solid NFL attributes, including an accurate arm, good progression reads, and athleticism. Other than his mobility, he’s a near replica of Manning.
The New York Giants need to manage Daniel Jones’ growth:
It will take time for Jones to get used to the speed and physicality of the NFL, but he’s looked poised and controlled so far, despite a bit of hesitancy from the expected jitters. Throwing the ball to talented pass-catchers like Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, and Evan Engram should help build his confidence and show what premium receivers look like.
At Duke, Jones didn’t play with a single NFL-bound player — his receivers dropped 33 passes in 2018 all-the-while carrying his squad to an 8-5 record including a Bowl game win against Temple.
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There’s no shot for Jones to earn the starting job over Manning in 2019, but he’s working diligently towards succeeding him in 2020. Learning and understanding the preparation required to succeed at the NFL level will be the priority for the young passer this season. There’s no reason for the Giants to throw him into the fire with Eli still capable. A rebuilt offensive line should tell us whether Manning can still operate at a high level, but if he struggles, this will certainly be his final year with Big Blue.
However, if Jones needed to play week 1 for the Giants, OC Mike Shula believes he could fit right in:
“I think he’d be ready to go [Week 1],â€Â Mike Shula—Giants offensive coordinator—said recently. “That’s my personal opinion. I do.â€