New York Giants: Signs point to Daniel Jones 2020 breakout
By Ed Stein
The New York Giants have made it clear that the team is now in Daniel Jones’ hands. Indications are that Jones is ready to make a big step up in 2020.
When Daniel Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2019, it divided the New York Giants fan base. I thought it was a bad pick, and it had very little to do with Jones personally.
The criticism starts and ends with Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman. In my opinion, he should have been able to get the quarterback later in the first round, and he had the draft capital to do it. The sixth pick could have then gone to a defensive playmaker, such as Josh Allen. By selecting Jones so early, it put unrealistic expectations on the rookie.
GMDG followed the pick his infamous, “I’m smarter than you” post-draft presser, where he basically said anyone who second-guessed him on the Jones pick is an idiot. There was so much destain built up among Giants fans that the kid got booed before he even took an NFL snap, when he attended a Yankees game. His high draft status and unrealistic expectations thrust the former Duke Blue Devils QB into a starting role he wasn’t quite ready to assume.
When Danny Dimes took over for Eli Manning (it only took me until the fourth paragraph to mention him), he inherited a suspect offensive line. Additionally, due to injuries, he had a group of “less than top-tier” receivers to work with. With little time and limited options to throw to, Jones made some poor decisions. All rookies make poor decisions, but several of Jones’ gaffs were mental mistakes that can’t happen at the pro level. His penchant for fumbling the ball made Big Blue fans sick.
Those same fans however, embraced the fact that it was now Jones’ team, and he needed to be supported. Plenty of credit should be given to New York Giants Nation. They swallowed down their nausea and patiently stood behind the kid.
If Daniel Jones had been drafted with the 17th overall pick instead of the sixth, most Big Blue supporters would have been ecstatic with his performance in 2019. He would have surpassed a much lower set of expectations. The situation is what it is, and their patience may pay off very soon. Several factors show that Jones is ready to take the next step.