Tag: Daniel jones

New York Giants Offensive Line Outlook

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The New York Giants offensive line outlook in 2022

By: Charlie Vakassian

The Giants struggled immensely in 2021, and one of the biggest issues was the offensive line. Left tackle Andrew Thomas was excellent, but every other position on the line was brutally bad or below average.

RT Nate Solder is flat-out washed and he will likely retire, C Billy Price was below average, and Matt Skura/Will Hernandez was simply bad at the guard spots. Whoever is hired as the next GM will have to essentially rebuild 80% of the line.

Here are the top two paths to building a quality offensive line and the prospects that would fit the best.

Draft Options

Luckily for the Giants, the draft is chock full of high-quality offensive linemen. There are several players vying for the right to be the first lineman selected. The big names at tackle are Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal, and Charles Cross. Ekwonu is the most versatile and has shown the ability to be a nasty road grader at guard or tackle in the run game. Neal is the most physically impressive, at 6’7″ and 350 pounds, he is incredibly agile for his size. Cross has the best football IQ of the three and is excellent at picking up stunts and blitzes from opposing linemen. At guard, Kenyon Green is the clear leader of the pack, unless you count Ekwonu. Green has an explosive stance and uses his immense strength to win at the point of attack. At the center position, Tyler Linderbaum is the hands-down best prospect at the position in a very long time. Weighing in at just under 290 pounds, he has amazing speed and athleticism, moving to the second level when blocking ridiculously fast. He is also one of the toughest players in college football, routinely taking his assigned block down to the ground.

Free Agency/Trade Options

As previously stated in other position overviews, the Giants have almost no cap space, so they will be shopping in the cheap section, even when cuts are made. Some names to keep an eye on include guys like Laken Tomlinson and Ted Karras at guard, and Eric Fisher and Riley Reiff at the tackle spots. The trade market is unlikely to be used, although we could see a mid to late pick sent for a swing lineman, similar to the trade made for Ben Bredeson before last season.

Concluding Thoughts

This is the most pressing need for the Giants without a question. At least one of the first-round picks they possess has to be used on an offensive lineman, and another early pick should be used on one too. Two new starters have to be added at a bare minimum. Part of the reason Daniel Jones has been so bad is that he never has time to stay in the pocket and make his reads. With better talent in the trenches, hopefully, the Giants can lock down the offensive line and get a better long-term reading on Jones.

New York Giants Quarterback Outlook

The Giants QB room is a question mark

By: Charlie Vakassian

With the offseason underway for the New York Giants, it is time to look at each position, see who will stay or go, and evaluate potential upgrades at the position. This week, we will look at the quarterback position, where the GMen still don’t know what they have in Daniel Jones.

Jones struggled with injuries once again this year, missing the last six games of the year with a strained neck. When on the field, he threw for 2428 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also ran for 298 yards on the ground, using his mobility well. The problem with Jones has always been holding onto the ball, as he has 65 turnovers, compared to 50 total touchdowns in his career. Whoever the Giants bring in as their new GM and HC, they are going to have to decide if they want to keep Jones or bring in a guy they prefer.

Options in the Draft

The Giants have two top 10 picks in the first round and could use one on a QB if they fall in love with one of the available guys. The top options include Matt Corral out of Ole Miss, Kenny Pickett from Pitt, and Malik Willis of Liberty. If the Giants were going to draft a new QB, my money would be on Corral, as he had the Ole Miss pedigree, similar to Giants legend Eli Manning. Corral has a cannon of an arm and is athletic enough to evade defenders while in the pocket.

Free Agency Options

This option is pretty weak if the Giants are looking for a starter. Jameis Winston and Teddy Bridgewater head what is an underwhelming free-agent class. However, there are plenty of serviceable backups available, and the Giants desperately need a backup option. Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm were horrible in relief of Jones. Someone to keep an eye on is Marcus Mariota, who I believe could be coaxed to come to New York and would be fine if pressed into service.

Trade Market

This is where things get interesting. There have been a lot of rumors linking Russell Wilson to the Giants, as he put them on a shortlist of teams he would accept a trade to. The Giants also have the draft capital to make a deal happen with the Seahawks, as they have 5 picks in the first 3 rounds this year. The only problem is cap space, as Wilson is in the middle of a four-year, 140 million dollar contract, and the Giants have no cap space, thanks to the poor decision-making of Kevin Abrams and Dave Gettleman. Other quarterbacks who may be available on the trade market include Deshaun Watson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, and Baker Mayfield.

Concluding Thoughts

If I had to guess, I would say Daniel Jones is back for another year, but his fifth-year option is not picked up by the team. The 2023 draft class will be much richer in QB talent than the 2022 class, and if the Giants have another subpar year, they can get their pick of the litter.

If Jones plays well, then they can bring him back on another contract. The only other scenario I can see playing out is if the new GM wants to push all the chips in now, and swing a trade for Russell Wilson. Unlikely at best, but you can never rule anything out in the NFL these days.

Dynasty: 3 QBs to trade away NOW

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Trade away Carson Wentz

Intro

Yes! the 2021 NFL season is a week in the books. However, dynasty football is a year-round marathon. There’s so much work that goes into watching games, analyzing the tape, studying tendencies, etc. to draft players in dynasty leagues that will help build your squad over the long run.

Much like the NFL hitching your wagon to the right QB will do wonders for your team and allow you to build from the ground up. Today we’ll discuss a couple of QBs that you want to trade away on your dynasty teams. These are players that I’m projecting to not be in ideal spots for the long haul thus will not pay dividends in dynasty leagues. Let’s get started!

Quarterbacks

Carson Wentz – Now, I expect Wentz to have an okay season and he will probably start every game. He has one of the best offensive lines in front of him and improved talent around him from a year ago. However, since we are talking dynasty QBs, Wentz isn’t an option long term.

It’s not that Wentz doesn’t produce solid numbers, however, he isn’t that oomph he had before his ACL and LCL tear in his left knee in 2017. Wentz also doesn’t provide the rushing upside as most of these younger QBs have. He is limited to being a pocket QB with limited mobile upside. With a shift in the league with how GMs are drafting QBs it makes the most sense to trade away Wentz, get decent draft capital back for him and trade for younger rookie QBs or wait til the 2022 NFL to draft a replacement.

Wentz may really not be the best short-term QB as “some” may have foreseen. Wentz was slightly a game manager against an okay Seattle defense from a year ago. If Wentz doesn’t play above average this year, it should be expected that he won’t have strong job security with his contract — not to mention the roster built for a QB to win now.

Daniel Jones – This is a make-or-break year for Jones. He has enough offensive talent around him along with Saquon Barkley returning. There is no excuse for Jones not to step up and deliver. However, the question is will he?? Simple answer is, no!

Jones is behind an awful offensive line. This is a huge concern and has been for a while now. I just don’t see Jones getting rid of the fumble/turnover issues that have plagued him for his first two seasons in the NFL. At this point, it might be time to cut bait and start over. There are so many talented rookie QBs this season that much greater talent around them and opportunity that Jones isn’t worth holding onto any longer.

In Week 1, Jones showed his lack of explosion as he just had 267 yards and a single touchdown. Jones has weapons galore and he’s young, so take that to your advantage in selling him now!

Jalen Hurts – Staying in the NFC East, Hurts is another QB that you need to trade away. He has tremendous upside in fantasy with his rushing ability and had a great last season last year but Hurts isn’t the long-term answer in dynasty leagues. I really don’t see much talent arm-wise.

Hurts actually played quite well last week. I don’t expect him to maintain a high quality of play or the HC-QB combo to have a fruitful career in the city of brotherly love. Although, there are A LOT of die hard Hurts fans and they sincerely bought into the hype he gathered from lots of analysts this offseason. Now after a solid Week 1 showcase against the atrocious Falcons pass defense, I would ship him off your roster.

Conclusion

As mentioned above in the intro, it takes time to scout good talent, especially in the quarterback position. However, if you are holding onto QBs like the ones above just because of one or two decent seasons then you aren’t planning correctly for the future of your dynasty squad. A huge part of the dynasty is to know when to cut bait, take your losses and move on. Sure, this can be time-consuming and a bit annoying but hey, it’s just fantasy! Have fun and enjoy being a GM!

By: Sukhwant Singh

Twitter: SinghisKing908

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Broncos at Giants: 3 key matchups in Week 1

Will Daniel Jones escape Von Miller?

By: Jordan Anders

The Denver Broncos open up their regular season at MetLife Stadium to face Daniel Jones and the New York Giants. The last time these two teams faced off was in 2017. At that time, Trevor Siemian was the Broncos starting quarterback and Eli Manning was the face of the Giants franchise. A lot has changed since then, for instance, the Broncos have had nine different starting quarterbacks, not including Teddy Bridgewater who will start this Sunday. As for the Giants, Daniel Jones took over the quarterback job after Eli Manning retired two seasons ago.

One thing that is certain in this game is the Broncos’ secondary won’t come to mess around. Both team’s defenses improved over the off-season. However, with Von Miller back in the lineup for the Broncos, the Giants’ offense will have to put in serious work. The Broncos were the only team this pre-season to not allow a touchdown in any of their three games and that was with most of the starters sidelined.

Von Miller & Bradley Chubb vs Daniel Jones

With the dynamic duo back in action, it could very well be a stressful day for Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Last season Bradley Chubb had 7.5 sacks and 42 tackles, while eight-time pro-bowler Von Miller is hungry to get back on the field after being injured last season.

With the combination of these two and the Giants O-line who was ranked 31st last year, the majority of them are back this season, it’s not looking good for Danny Dimes. Giants LT Andrew Thomas didn’t only struggle in the regular season last year, but he played poorly against average talent in the pre-season, as well. Expect Miller to show up on the stat sheet.

Saquon Barkley vs Broncos defense

Last year Broncos struggled to shut down ball carriers, as they were ranked 29th. The Broncos gave up a lousy 4.8 yards per carry. With no big changes made to the Broncos’ front seven, the Giants running back Saquon Barkley could have a big comeback game after missing nearly all of last season due to an ACL injury. Barkley in the 2019 season rushed for over 1000 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. Although, they will have Von Miller and Chubb back (mentioned above).

The Broncos will not only have two star edge players back, but they will be able to load the box more. The Broncos secondary is arguably the best unit in the league. Pro Football Focus ranked the Broncos secondary number one overall.

Teddy Bridgewater vs Giants defense

After being named Broncos starting quarterback roughly two weeks ago in a close competition with Drew Lock, there will be a lot of eyes on Teddy Bridgewater this game. Last year, the Giants pass defense was rated 17th in the league, their rush defense rated 8th only allowing 4.1 yards per carry. On the flip side, Bridgewater has many young offensive weapons on his side including wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy who can very well get around defenders and make a play. Teddy can also be efficient in not turning it over against a stingy defense.

Both defenses are brute and both QBs should show modest play, so this game will be a match of who has the better defense, to say the least. Outside of the defense, It will be who has the better WR room. Kenny Golladay to the Giants was a huge bonus to them this off-season. Then Jerry Jeudy will be a healthy improved player for the Broncos. The battle of defenses and splash plays, likely by the two WRs mentioned, will be the ultimate deciding factor in the outcome of this game. Odds are in favor of the Broncos to take this one home as a -2.5 spread favorite.

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Dynasty: Two QBs to Buy

"New York Giants Take The Field on October 7th" by Marianne O'Leary is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Buy Giants QB Daniel Jones

The NFL is advertised by young quarterbacks that dominate the league like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Lamar Jackson. Even though these QBs steal the spotlight, they will soon lose many reputable leading statlines, records, and Lombardi trophies to the next wave of “young up and coming QBs”. These first-year/second-year signal-callers are often discussed profoundly in the media, but not on a high enough scale from different angles. By saying that, I’m going to highlight two QBs age 24 and under that, you should consider buying in your beloved fantasy league.

Let’s get started

Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold won the lottery when he was given the Panthers starting QB reigns. Darnold will light up the scoreboard with the familiar Robby Anderson, DJ Moore, and top purpose back in the league, Christian McCaffrey. Teddy Bridgewater was soft when it came to pushing the ball downfield, yet DJ Moore and Robby Anderson were still a Top 5 WR combo. Now the Panthers explosive wideouts have the talent of the 23-year-old Sam Darnold, they will really become one of the league’s hottest offenses. 

I’m not the only one sold on the former USC QB. Todd McShay, Mel Kiper, and Louis Riddick all believe that Darnold is the guy Rhule has been looking for. A reason that stands out from the notable analysts is that the Panthers were more competitive than many realize — the Panthers lost eight games by eight or fewer pts in 2020. Darnold is worth significantly more points than the veteran Bridgewater that was sent out the door for a late-round draft pick.

Darnold has also been very productive and clean with his turnovers in pre-season as of late. Darnold went 19/25, 162 yards, 2 TDs, and a 119 passer rating against Pittsburgh’s brute defense. The strongest crowd telling you to sway away from Darnold are the NY Jet season ticket holders.

Daniel Jones 

The NFC East QB out of the Big Apple was impressive (Yes) in 2020. Despite not having Saquon Barkley, a quality WR in the building, Jones did a lot with the situation and was even named PFF’s most improved player in 2020. On top of that, Joe Judge revealed that Danny Dimes played through severe injuries in the season. Despite Jones playing with a depleted, porous, crew and being banged up himself, the Giants QB had stout performances and was “efficient”. His passer rating improved from 65.9 as a rookie to 78.4 in 2020. 

Jones will have Kenny Golladay, first-round pick Kadarius Toney, and Evan Engram has returned to the offense. It also helps that the third-year QB will get to utilize his toys in the disastrous NFC East. 

I don’t believe that Jones’s aggressive pre-season passing in a poor limited display against Belichick’s revamped defense is the death sentence for the Giants young QB. The turnover machine is playing a ball hawk defense in August, so don’t be starstruck from some moments of struggle – which will surely still occur in the season. In fact, I believe it would make more sense to push for a trade now.

The Giants QB should very well outperform his rookie year TD count of 24 in 14 games. Let’s not forget, he was 12th per points as a rookie in fantasy, too. I fully expect Jones to put it all together in terms of production, efficiency, and fewer turnovers in 2021. Marcus Spears of ESPN said it right when he said if Jones takes care of the football, Jones will be a star and the G Men could win the NFC East.

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Why the New York Giants can contend for playoffs

"Saquon Barkley, Pat Shurmur" by KA Sports Photos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

New York Giants playoff bound next season?

By: Jeremy Trottier

The New York Giants have had a very impressive offseason, bringing in a lot of new members to the team and really improving it in all facets.  The Giants also only missed the playoffs last season by one game, and even though they were in a notoriously weak 2020 NFC East, they were still able to be in that position with rather lackluster receiving options and lacked depth.  In this article, I will be going over three reasons the New York Giants can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Hugely Improved Roster

As I previously mentioned, the Giants have made some significant improvements to their roster and 

have really given Daniel Jones every single opportunity to succeed in the 2021-2022 season.  The most notable two additions for Jones will be Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, who both bring some elite separation factor to the roster, granted in different ways.  Toney reminds me of almost an Alvin Kamara of sorts in terms of how insanely elusive he is, obviously not that level of playmaker yet but his shifts and lateral agility are absolutely off the charts.  Having a short-range receiver like that who can turn five yards into 25 is massive.  

Outside these two additions they also brought in players like Azeez Ojulari and Elerson Smith to help the linebacking front, Rodarius Williams for CB depth and even potential to start eventually, and OL depth in Jake Burton and Raymond Johnson III.  It is also notable that they will have a returning Xavier McKinney for a full season of play potentially and his young capabilities should sure up an already solid secondary.

Daniel Jones is Ready for the Next Step

One of the most notable things in the NFL is when quarterbacks really learn the NFL landscape and make the jump from solid to good.  Josh Allen did it last season (year three), Baker Mayfield really improved from season two to season three, even players like Ryan Tannehill improved extremely when getting more weapons around them, in his case a new system and team. 

Daniel Jones did have a relatively down year in 2020, no doubt, throwing almost as many TDs as interceptions and less than 3000 yards, however, who can blame him?  When your primary receiving threats are a not yet developed Darius Slayton, Sterling Shephard who has been mediocre and struggles with separation, and Evan Engram who despite being a Pro-Bowler last season really has trouble holding onto the ball, you are bound to have issues passing.  Also take note he did not have Saquon Barkley out of the backfield to pitch to when he was under pressure.  With that said, he has the weapons, he has a somewhat developing O-line, and a phenomenal defense to get him the ball back.  He should perform at a new high level in 2021 based on all of this.

The NFC East is…Interesting

Finally, we take a look at the surrounding teams, all of which have huge deals of question marks.  Starting with the Dallas Cowboys, who yes, should be contending for the playoffs, however, this is provided Dak Prescott is actually able to play at the high level he did previously, and the injury did not change him heavily.  Even if so, the Cowboys did go 2-3 prior to Dak’s injury last season, and one game was pure because the Atlanta Falcons had a miscue on special teams.  

Then you have the Washington Football Team, who yes are also primed to make a playoff push potentially.  With that said, again, is their QB a set thing?  Ryan Fitzpatrick did do well with the Miami Dolphins, but this is a completely different offense, and many forget Fitz was not extraordinary and consistent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not too long ago.  The WFT also are missing strength along the O-line to protect Fitz, and could definitely use some more in terms of secondary depth and potentially even another CB.  

Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles, who most have written off as the bottom team in this division right now, as they are mainly banking on Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith to push this team forward.  With a continually aging offensive line, a relatively dismantled defense outside a few players like Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay, they really look like they will struggle unless something sparks heavily.

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Why the Giants could have a Top 10 passing offense

"Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram" by KA Sports Photos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Giants passing offense a Top 10 unit?

By: Daniel Racz

Introduction

The New York Giants’ offense fell short of all expectations in 2020. After losing star running back Saquon Barkley, the Giants had to adapt. The front office signed Devonta Freeman and Alfred Morris to pair with Wayne Gallman. To the surprise of many, the Giants’ running game was more successful than their air attack. However, there are many reasons to expect the Giants passing game to take a step forward. A healthy Daniel Jones will be the key, but there are a few other pieces that will be crucial if the Giants want a top-ten passing offense. Ensuring that the Giants use weapons besides Kenny Golladay and Saquon Barkley may be the determining factor for Big Blue in 2021.

Schemed Up Touches For Kadarius Toney

The Giants’ questionably spent a first-round pick on Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Despite remaining at Florida for four years, Toney is a raw route runner. If the Giants want to add a new element to their offense, they will have to play to Toney’s strengths. Toney is a menace in the open field. His ability to break tackles and evade defenders in college was reminiscent of Alvin Kamara. If that skill translates to the NFL, the Giants can utilize Toney like the dynamic weapon that he is.

The best way to maximize the skill of open field specialists like Toney is through touches at or behind the line of scrimmage. Giving Toney touches like screens, drag routes and even pitches could give the Giants a weapon that few other teams in the league possess. 

A Stable Offensive Line

The least talked about aspect of an offense when discussing their passing attack is their offensive line. The New York Giants’ were unable to run lots of successful deep passing plays in large part due to their inability to give Daniel Jones time to throw. Their offensive line ranked in the bottom five in almost every statistic. Jones did not have time to throw, and he got frazzled under pressure.

If the Giants can piece together a top twenty offensive line, it will open up new avenues for their passing attack. Deep targets to Kenny Golladay and Darius Slayton can only be consistently successful if they are attempted from a clean pocket. The Giants hired Rob Sale to be their new offensive line coach, and he may be an X-Factor for the team in 2021. 

A Healthy, Dynamic Evan Engram 

Did Evan Engram make the pro bowl last year? Yes. Did that endear him to Giants fans? Not at all. 

In 2020, Engram’s drop issues cost the Giants turnovers and an early-season matchup against the Eagles. It is worth noting that Evan Engram played the 2020 season with a lisfranc injury. Engram’s injury is similar to the injury that Marquise “Hollywood” Brown of the Ravens played through during his rookie year in 2019. In 2020, Brown returned more explosive. If Engram can come into the 2021 season and play as he did earlier in his career, the Giants will have another weapon on their hands. When at his best, Engram is a premier tight end with elite athleticism. If the Giants use Engram properly, they can have an above-average passing attack. 

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3 biggest training camp questions for Giants offense

"Saquon Barkley" by KA Sports Photos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Saquon Barkley healthy in training camp?

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes 

Introduction

The New York Giants released tickets to FanFest, their one day of training camp that fans are permitted to partake in earlier today, so let’s dive into what fans should care about this pre-season. The New York Giants are one of the most confusing teams in the National Football League, as they have a wide range of outcomes. The New York Giants spared no expense this offseason when it came to adding weapons. Their additions of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and Kyle Rudolph will undoubtedly make the offense more dynamic. In the backfield, the Giants will be hoping they get the 2019 version of Saquon Barkley. And, even if Barkley is back to his all-pro ways, he will still have to navigate one of the worst offensive lines in the league. The NFC East is ripe for the taking, but are the Giants up for the task?

Battle for WR3

The Giants’ wide receiver room will be a top ten unit in the league if they are comfortable in three-wide receiver sets. Kenny Golladay is a big-bodied, alpha wide receiver that can win in the red zone. Sterling Shepard offers inside-outside versatility and is a phenomenal blocker. Shepard’s role will likely depend on whether Darius Slayton or Kadarius Toney wins the third spot on the depth chart. Toney and Slayton could not be more different stylistically. While Slayton is a more nuanced route runner and deep threat, Kadarius Toney excels with the ball in his hand. Early reports of Toney missing practices point to Slayton having the inside track on the job, but it is worth monitoring throughout the offseason.

Everything On The Offensive Line

On almost any offensive line metric last year the Giants ranked in the bottom five. Whether it be inexperience, a lack of continuity, or poor coaching; the Giants had it. Rookies Andrew Thomas and Shane Lemieux had their struggles throughout the year, though Thomas improved as the year progressed. Will Hernandez battled covid during the year and his play suffered. During the season, Joe Judge fired line coach Marc Columbo. This season, the Giants are bringing in former Louisiana Lafayette line coach Robert Sale to develop their hog mollies. The Giants will also have a battle at right tackle between 2020 third-round pick Matt Peart and veteran Nate Solder. The offensive line will make or break the offense, so making sure the Giants get the best five players starting as many games as possible is imperative. 

Saquon Barkley’s Recovery

The highest selection Dave Gettleman has ever made was running back Saquon Barkley in the 2018 NFL draft. The former Nittany Lion put the league on notice during his rookie season by totaling over 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Unfortunately, Barkley suffered a high-ankle sprain that derailed most of his 2019 campaign. Saquon returned to full health by the end of the 2019 season, but it did not make an impact. In 2020, Saquon Barkley tore his ACL and MCL early in Week two against the Chicago Bears. After allowing the MCL to heal, Barkley received surgery in late October. His timeline puts his status for week one in jeopardy. Though Saquon is expected to be healthy for Week one. If the Giants have a healthy Saquon Barkley running behind a league-average offensive line this season, they will be a force to be reckoned with. 

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Daniel Jones is the Giants long term QB

"Marines, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen and Soldiers unfurl American Flag at New York Giants military appreciation game Nov. 20" by NYCMarines is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Danny Dimes is the Giants future QB

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes 

Introduction

The 2019 draft brings up confusing memories for most Giants fans. The expectation was that the Giants were going to put together one final attempt to win with Eli Manning. The perceived weak QB class made pass rushers like Josh Allen and Brian Burns the top targets in most mock drafts. However, the Giants’ front office shocked the world when they took Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth pick in the draft. 

Jones’ first two years in the NFL have been a series of ups and downs. His rookie year featured extreme volatility. Though he posted 26 total touchdowns, he also gave the ball away 27 times (not good!). With a depleted weapons group in Jones’ sophomore year, he cut back on the turnovers at the expense of the big plays. That said, there are numerous reasons to expect Jones to cement himself as the face of the New York Football Giants.

Tireless Work Ethic

Daniel Jones may be the subject of memes and mockery on the internet, but he does not let that phase me. Between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Jones loaded up on muscle intending to eliminate his fumbling issues. While he coughed up the ball eight times in 2020, that is much better than the fifteen lost fumbles from 2019. 

Multiple Giants have preached about Jones’ commitment to the game. The phrase “First guy in, last guy out” is frequently repeated when those in the know within the Giants’ organization are asked about Jones. Does this work ethic mean that Jones will take a leap and assert himself as a premier quarterback? Of course not. Nonetheless, it is a positive sign for a young quarterback like Daniel Jones.

Year Over Year Improvement

Fumbling is not the only area where Jones has progressed. While Daniel Jones posted better counting statistics during his rookie season, he had a better handle of the position his sophomore year. In the pocket, Jones was less susceptible to pressure, leading to fewer turnovers. This comfort also aided Jones as a passer. Despite a putrid offensive line, Jones managed to rank as NextGenStats’ number one graded deep passer in 2020. 

Daniel Jones also established himself as a force on the ground during his sophomore season. Jones went from 279 rushing yards his rookie year to 423 in 2020 despite playing the final few games on a bum leg. Jones should be expected to take another jump in 2021 with the return of Saquon Barkley too. 

Respectable Supporting Cast

For the first time in Daniel Jones’ short career, he has a dynamic group of weapons around him. Jones’ partner in crime in the backfield, all-pro running back Saquon Barkley, returns from his ACL injury. For better or for worse, most of the 2020 offensive line is coming back. At the wide receiver position, the Giants are as stacked as they have been in nearly a decade. Possession wide receiver Kenny Golladay signed with the Giants in free agency. The Giants also added tight end Kyle Rudolph and gadget wide receiver Kadarius Toney. The Giants now have big-bodied red-zone threats in Golladay and Rudolph. Though Toney is raw as a route runner, he is a solid athlete and phenomenal in the open field. Daniel Jones played with a 1990 Toyota for his first few years, and he has just been handed a Ferrari. 

The Giants also improved their defense via the additions of pass rusher Azeez Ojulari and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. Jones will have the chance to lead a top offense, and Big Blue’s defense will ensure that the team will be competitive in every game. 

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Why Danny Dimes is safe in New York for the foreseeable future

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Danny Dimes will not be kicked out of the Big Apple soon

By: Jake Rajala

Daniel Jones, who is now entering his third year in the league, has been through his fair share of ups and downs. Jones has proven to be an excellent deep passer, but he has had his moments of struggling to secure the football (36 career turnovers).

Heading into the 2021 season, Jones has been given his highest expectations thus far. Jones will be accompanied by wide receiver Kadarius Toney who was taken in the first round and prominent running back Saquon Barkley, who is coming off a season-ending injury. Undeniably, the Giants signal-caller is expected to take the next step.

There is a grand question that’s worth asking with regards to the first-round QB: Is 2021 a make-or-break season for him? I believe the answer is a clear NO. There are a few reasons why Jones is safe to be the Giants signal-caller for at least this season.

  • There are other glaring holes on the roster

Joe Judge embodies not just an old school personality, but a fundamental approach to building a football squad. Judge has made it clear that he wants to build his team the right way from day one. He’s not a fan of splash signings or draft picks, but rather building a team around a QB, vs throwing a QB in the fire (that’s the other former NY coach).

With that said, the Giants are still a couple seasons away from building a competitive roster around any talented QB. The defense still needs to improve on the DL, they could use a couple more playmaking LBs, and there aren’t any young studs in the secondary outside of Jabril Peppers.

  • Jones will be above the QBs available on the draft board

The Giants will likely unveil 6-10 wins in the 2021 season. So, the QB options in the draft will not be daunting, nor would it be worth for the team to cough up draft picks to move up the draft board. Let’s face it – Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell will be off the board when the Giants are on the clock.

Jones is surely above the QBs after the first two. More importantly, the experience of Jones will give him a huge advantage over the less sexy rookie signal callers.

  • Jones will grow in year three with the Giants offense

I confidently see Jones taking steps of growth in 2021. The rookie Toney will be a quality piece for Jones, Evan Engram remains in the offense, and Saquon Barkley will return healthy. As Pro Football Focus well stated, Jones remains an underrated QB. 

Jones should record around 32+ passing TDs and 3,500+ passing yards next season. His rookie season was impressive with an abysmal offense (24 TDs in 13 games). Expect to witness a career season out of the third-year QB with the best cast he has had. If and when Jones puts up quality numbers, it will be enough to maintain his starting position in the Big Apple for beyond 2021.

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