New York Giants’ Daniel Jones Stacks up Well in the NFC East
By Evan Desai
Why Jones ranks higher than Prescott
Dak Prescott finished second in passing yards in 2019, with 4,902 yards. There was even a time during the season where Prescott was the passing yards leader. At one point in that time (11 weeks in), Pro Football Focus (PFF) did a study on who the best quarterback in the NFL was at each throw and situation. Prescott was only featured on first-read throws; just the throws that were handed to him.
It’s interesting how as soon as the Cowboys hired highly respected Kellen Moore as the offensive coordinator, Prescott’s numbers improved. Prescott’s wins, however, declined (8-8), and he missed the playoffs.
This all shows that there were tons of empty calories in those passing yards, not to mention he had perhaps the best offensive line in football, a borderline tier-one running back in Ezekiel Elliot, and a borderline tier-one wide receiver in Amari Cooper.
Jones had a terrible coaching staff, a terrible offensive line, and an average group of receivers to work with, and now pair that with an injured Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram; arguably the two best players on the team.
Prescott’s accuracy issues were on full display in some of the biggest moments of the season, such as week 12 at New England, and week 16 at Philadelphia.
But Jones in just one year has shown the ability to separate and take over games. Jones is one of only three quarterbacks to ever throw for at least four touchdown passes in three individual games as a rookie.
Also, if Andy Dalton was on the Giants, nobody would question Jones as the best quarterback on the roster, Prescott can’t relate.