When Commissioner Roger Goodell took the stage to announce the New York Giants 6th overall pick, the Big Blue faithful waited nervously. With players such as Josh Allen and Ed Oliver still available, it seemed as though the team would go in the defensive direction. That is when Gettleman surprised many and selected the 6’5’’, 220-pound Quarterback, Daniel Jones from Duke University. Fans across the country immediately started to say that Jones was nowhere near worth taking him so early in the NFL Draft. However, there are a few reasons as to why the Giants took him, and why they did it so early.
Why The New York Giants Drafted Daniel Jones at No. 6:
Can’t Risk Waiting Until pick No. 17
When you have your eyes on a specific player, you take him. This is especially true with the Quarterback position. We now know that Jones was the number one QB on the Giants’ big board. He was the Quarterback they wanted and they did not plan on settling for someone else later in the draft. By taking him at 6, you guarantee you will get him. Waiting until 17 would’ve been extremely risky.
With teams such as the Broncos, Bengals, Dolphins, and Redskins all reportedly interested in taking a QB with their first-round pick, the Giants had to take their guy before anyone else got the opportunity to. There are rumors around the league that the Broncos wanted Jones and when he was taken by the Giants, they decided to trade back. Washington was also reportedly split between Haskins and Jones, the coaching staff leaning more towards Jones. If the Giants got to pick No. 17 and their guy Jones wasn’t there, they would’ve just delayed the process of finding their future QB for another year.
The Cutcliffe Connection
David Cutcliffe, the Head Coach of Duke Football, has been tied to Eli Manning for all of his career. Cutcliffe was Manning’s coach at Ole Miss, and by looking at Manning’s résumé, you can see just how good a job he did. Jones played under Coach Cutcliffe for every year he was at Duke. If Cutcliffe made Eli a future Hall of Famer, it is understandable to see why the Giants believe he can do the same for Jones.
His Skill Set Fits the Giants Offense
Jones is a player who thrives in an offense with quick, well timed, short to intermediate passes. All of those boxes are checked off with the Giants. With players such as Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard, the short to the intermediate passing game will be the main way the ball will be pushed down the field. The way the offense runs will help him greatly.
The Help of Saquon Barkley
Just because the Giants drafted a Quarterback doesn’t mean that he is the new face of the franchise. That title still belongs to Pro-Bowl Running Back Saquon Barkley. He will most likely carry the load of the offense for years to come. The Giants will be a run-first team moving forward. They don’t need a flashy QB like Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson. They just need one that will do what they are asked.
Simply put, Jones is a player who makes good decisions when he has the ball in his hands. Rarely during his college career did he try to force throws. He will be a consistent, reliable starter in the NFL. Look at Mitch Trubisky for example. Trubisky did not have any awe-inspiring stats or jaw-dropping games. He was a consistent player who got the job done when he needed to.
Little Help at Duke
Daniel Jones started at Duke for three years. During those three years, he played alongside no NFL talent. And not just “no talent†as very few, I mean literally, none of his teammates made it to the NFL. He did not benefit from having great players around him, unlike other QB’s in this draft.
No. 15 overall pick Dwayne Haskins played alongside six other future NFL players this past season. No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray also had six future NFL players on his side of the ball. Haskins had solid receivers to throw to such as Parris Campbell, while Murray had No. 25 overall selection Marquis Brown to throw to. They had some help when on offense.
Daniel Jones was also sacked 2.31 times per game during his final collegiate season. Murray, Haskins, and even Drew Lock were sacked significantly fewer times. He got no help from his receivers, either. Every stat that you see he has are truly his. He didn’t have the benefit of a playmaker who could turn a simple pass into a touchdown.
He is Built for New York
Part of being a Quarterback is taking on all the pressure that comes with it. You need to be reserved and respectful around the media, especially if you are playing in New York. Jones is extremely mature for his age and has great character. He is a silent leader who does what he is asked, and he does it well. He fits perfectly into the locker room that GM Dave Gettleman is trying to build. One with a great culture.