By Jordan Long
The New York Giants have a decision to make on quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract. The Giants can pick up his 5th-year option which would keep the quarterback in New York until the end of the 2023 season. A decision is going to come before the NFL Draft which starts tomorrow at 6 P.M. Mountain Time.
Jones was selected by the New York Giants 6th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. Jones was expected to be the next franchise quarterback of the team. Jones played well in his rookie season, passing for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns. He seemed to be reading NFL defenses well because he wasn’t throwing into double coverage. Jones found the open receiver but tossed for 12 interceptions.
Jones’ record was 3-9 for New York. It wasn’t his fault. He did his part to give the Giants a chance to win every game. The defense let him down. New York ended that season with a record of 4-12 and fired Head Coach Pat Shurmer for the poor season.
New York hired Joe Judge hoping to have better results. Jones, though, took a step back. In 2020, Jones totaled 2,943 yards and 11 touchdowns. He wasn’t seeing the field as well and forced the ball into coverage with 10 interceptions. That season his record as the Giants’ starter was 5-9. New York missed the playoffs with a 6-10 record.
Last year Jones had career lows in passing yards and touchdowns. Jones threw for 2,428 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was picked off 7 times which is down from 2020. His record was 4-7. The team finished 4-13 and fired Joe Judge.
In his 3 year career, Jones passed for 8,398 yards and 45 touchdowns. He is turning the ball over way too much and forcing the football into spots where his receiver is covered. Those are easy interceptions with 29. Jones is still trying to develop into an NFL quarterback.
The biggest difficulty with his inability to improve in the NFL is how many coaches he has gone through. The Giants are now on his third Head Coach, hiring Brian Daboll this offseason. Daboll is an offensive minded Head Coach who they hope will help Jones. Daboll coached in Buffalo as their offensive coordinator. In his time in Buffalo he turned Josh Allen into one of the better quarterbacks in the league. The Giants expect Daboll to do the same with Jones this upcoming season.
The Giants will need to make a decision. The worst case is they decline the 5th year option, forcing Jones to play in a contract year. If he plays well, then he earns a contract extension. Another poor year and the Giants will let him go after this season. The ball is really in the Giants’ court because they have the control. They have seen what Jones can do on the football field but it’s up to them if they think his play deserves a 5th year.
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