The New York Giants made a controversial draft selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. With the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Daniel Jones, a quarterback from Duke University.
This pick was controversial because many “analysts” and “experts” have said that they do not believe Daniel Jones was worthy of the 6th pick. They argue that he will not be a franchise quarterback and he was not the second-best (or even the third-best) quarterback in the 2019 draft class.
Regardless of what “analysts” and “experts” think, Giants fans will be rooting on Daniel Jones and hoping he proves the football world wrong. However, Giants fans should hope that Jones does not even get the chance to prove them wrong in 2019. Here’s why:
Giants Fans Should Want To See Eli Manning Succeed
The Giants have fully committed to Daniel Jones as their next franchise quarterback, but they are still committed to their current franchise quarterback, Eli Manning.
Manning will start his 16th NFL season with the Giants in 2019. The past couple of years have been rough for Eli and the Giants. With the end of his career nearing closer and closer, it is now or never for Eli Manning to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
Giants fans are excited to see Daniel Jones in action, rightfully so. But Giants fans are seeming to forget that if Daniel Jones starts in 2019, it will be because the team is losing again. Losing a lot.
The Giants are 8-24 over the last two seasons. It is time to see them win again. It is time to see Eli Manning win again.
If the Giants are enduring another pitiful, losing season in 2019, then it is time to throw Daniel Jones in. However, if the team is winning with Eli Manning at the helm, then the Giants need to keep Eli in and hope he shocks the world again as he did in 2008 and 2012.
Winning the Super Bowl is not very likely for the Giants in 2019, but winning 8 or more games is certainly feasible. The Giants have the 27th easiest schedule out of all teams in 2019. With the legendary career he’s had, it would be nice to see Eli Manning get another winning season before he hangs it up.
Give Daniel Jones Time To Learn
General manager Dave Gettleman has discussed Daniel Jones’s future playing time on a couple of occasions. While discussing the rookie quarterback class prior to the NFL Draft, Gettleman discussed his liking of the “Kansas City Model.”
The Kansas City Model is based on Patrick Mahomes’s success with the Chiefs. The Chiefs had veteran quarterback Alex Smith in 2017 but drafted Mahomes in the top 10 of the 2017 NFL Draft. Mahomes sat his entire rookie season before being given the starting job in 2018. Patrick Mahomes went on to toss 50 touchdown passes and win league MVP in his sophomore season.
This is one example of a young quarterback having success after sitting during the beginning of their career. Another example is Aaron Rodgers. Dave Gettleman also mentioned that Daniel Jones could fit the Aaron Rodgers model in his post-draft presser.
Aaron Rodgers sat behind legendary signal-caller Brett Favre for his first three seasons in the NFL. After Favre left Green Bay, Rodgers took over as the Packers’ starting quarterback. Since then, Rodgers has won a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP, two league MVPs, and has been to 7 Pro Bowls.
The reason it took Rodgers so long to see the field is that Brett Favre, the old but talented legend, was still producing wins for the Packers and was even selected to a Pro Bowl in his final season with the team. This is what Giants fans should hope to see with Eli Manning.
If Eli Manning’s career gets a second wind, Giants fans should be ecstatic. Even if it means having to wait a little while longer to see Daniel Jones in action. Seeing the Giants win again with Eli Manning holding down the starting job would be a historic time period in Giants history.
A few more years of solid Eli Manning play might not be a bad thing for Daniel Jones either. The longer he waits to receive his starting job, the longer he gets to learn. The more Daniel Jones learns before getting on the field the better. It would be ideal for Daniel Jones to get on the field only after he is completely prepared to face an NFL defense.