{"id":77451,"date":"2019-12-06T15:56:17","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T20:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=77451"},"modified":"2022-02-02T18:44:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T23:44:59","slug":"the-futures-past-of-daniel-jones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/12\/06\/the-futures-past-of-daniel-jones\/","title":{"rendered":"The Futures Past of Daniel Jones"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just when we thought that the New York Giants\u2019<\/a> season couldn\u2019t get more dreary, Daniel Jones<\/a><\/strong> has once again come to the rescue. No, no. He\u2019s not throwing dimes. He\u2019s not Hail Mary-ing all over the field. He\u2019s actually not doing anything as of this week. Because Daniel Jones is hurt.<\/p>\n

In a way, Daniel Jones has saved the Giants\u2019 season, because he\u2019s spawned the dramatic return of Eli Manning<\/a><\/strong>, who is projected to start against the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> on Monday Night Football this week.<\/p>\n

High ankle sprains in the NFL typically take four to six weeks to heal, but what does coach Pat Shurmur<\/strong> know (and I mean, other than how to throw a season)? He wants Jones back as soon as possible and says that the job will be Jones\u2019 again as soon as he is ready to take the field. Until then, Giants fans are privy to the Manning Farewell Festival\u2122, as we welcome back the veteran quarterback for what will presumably be the final drives of his career.<\/p>\n

Jones had an impressive welcome to the NFL\u2014two back-to-back wins early in the season that featured the rookie dancing his way out of the pocket to score his own touchdowns, and finding talented pass-catchers like Evan Engram<\/a><\/strong>, Sterling Shepard<\/a><\/strong>, and Wayne Gallman<\/a><\/strong> before each suffered their own injuries. Jones is hardly to blame for this season\u2019s heartbreak. His positive first impressions had the likes of, well, me<\/em>, for one, pained to the gut with regret for disdainful editorials and tweets inspired by his selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. It\u2019s the lack of luster in Big Blue\u2019s roster depth that is liable. In the last two weeks, particularly, it\u2019s started to seem that Dwayne Haskins<\/a><\/strong> was no longer the rookie quarterback to pity. But how might Daniel Jones have fared this season had he been selected later? Or, by one of the other teams for which a new signal-caller was a necessity?<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones Out of Jersey: An Exploration of Futures Past<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A Young Eli Manning<\/h3>\n

Early on, Daniel Jones was prescribed as a younger version of his predecessor. One of the greatest tweets to emerge post-draft suggested that Jones \u201clooks like the guy who could play Eli Manning in a movie about Peyton Manning<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s life;\u201d a horrifyingly accurate observation. But while the visual resemblance is strong, Jones\u2019 resume just as well renders him Manning material.<\/p>\n

At Duke, Jones was coached under David Cutcliffe<\/strong>, who served as the offensive coordinator when Peyton was in college at Tennessee, and then as the head coach at Ole Miss when Eli led the former Rebels. Jones also attended the Manning Passing Academy camps in Louisiana, working with the brothers on a deep level. It wouldn\u2019t be far-fetched to assume that, come draft time, Eli might have even been pushing for the selection of Jones behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

In my colleague John Bava\u2019s draft profile of Jones<\/a>, he suggests a resemblance to Josh Allen<\/a><\/strong>, who is currently leading the Buffalo Bills<\/a> to the top of the AFC East. Allen missed most of his rookie season due to injury. Now that Jones is hurt, the resemblance is a little more cut and clear. Comparatively, Iron Man Eli has played in 234 NFL games, never missing a single one due to injury.<\/p>\n

When it became apparent that the Giants needed to draft a quarterback, a definite goal was a player with more mobile instincts than Eli. But with mobility comes a bleak reality\u2014one that the Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, for instance, will likely have to face in the near future. Danny Dimes has reverted in the past weeks to some of the same issues that he faced at Duke\u2014an over-zealousness that prompts dicey throws into double coverage, and depth issues that result in turnovers. Issues that, while serious, might not be so with a more durable offensive fence and an agile army of receivers.<\/p>\n

Jones was the second quarterback drafted this year after Kyler Murray<\/a><\/strong> went first overall to the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>. Plenty of other teams had the same need, and Jones was ranked the fourth most appealing prospect at the position, behind Murray, Haskins, and Drew Lock<\/a><\/strong>. With the Giants so desperate in so many areas, the sixth overall pick definitely could have been used on a different kind of capital (*cough* Kentucky\u2019s Josh Allen<\/strong><\/a> *cough*), leaving the 17th pick for a quarterback. Lock wasn\u2019t even drafted until almost mid-way through the second round, and that certainly supports the idea that Jones could have ended up elsewhere, and on a team that might better cater to mini-Manning. After all, in disagreement with my colleague’s regard, Jones looked like a second-round pick at best.<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones the Buccaneer<\/h3>\n

Jameis Winston<\/a><\/strong> was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> in the 2015 NFL Draft, but his tenure hasn\u2019t been a walk in the park. His personal conduct has been a hindrance, rendering him an erratic wild card. Behind him on the depth chart stands only Ryan Griffin<\/a><\/strong>, who is 30 years old and\u2026 wait for it\u2026 has never played in an NFL game. Needless to say, the Bucs needed a rookie at the beginning of the season, and still need one now.<\/p>\n

Peyton Barber<\/a><\/strong> and Ronald Jones<\/a><\/strong> are no joke, sharing the running back role. Jones doesn\u2019t have a whole lot to show for it in his two-year career, but despite missing a blitz last week that resulted in the team\u2019s only turnover against the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>, he has never fumbled, and Bruce Arians<\/strong> plans to continue utilizing him in their fight for the playoffs. Barber, on the other hand, is having a stellar fourth NFL season and is the first player this year to have two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in one game.<\/p>\n

Deeper down the field, Chris Godwin<\/a><\/strong> is having a breakout year and is tied for most touchdown receptions with Marvin Jones<\/a><\/strong> and Kenny Golladay<\/a><\/strong>. His counterpart Mike Evans<\/a><\/strong> isn\u2019t looking too shabby himself. With weaponry like that, Daniel Jones would have little difficulty getting the ball where it needs to be, and his out-of-pocket tendencies would be less reckless. With the fifth overall draft pick, the Buccaneers might have selected Daniel Jones to ensure their future. Yeah, Devin White<\/a><\/strong> is a studly beast in his rookie year, but as we all know, you have to score points to win games, and if Winston were to go down, it\u2019s difficult to see that happening for Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones the Jaguar<\/h3>\n

Before Nick Foles<\/a><\/strong> was signed to the Jaguars, the jungle cats were headlined by Blake Bortles<\/a><\/strong>, who had the third-most starts in the franchise\u2019s history. It was no secret that the chemistry between Bortles and the Jags was depleted as last year progressed, as he was benched in favor of Cody Kessler<\/a><\/strong> in Week 7. Kessler ultimately started four games last year, and Bortles was released the same day that Foles was signed, leaving Kessler as the backup until his own release in May.<\/p>\n

The Jaguars drafted Gardner Minshew<\/a><\/strong> in the sixth round of this April’s draft, and in him, they found their probable franchise cannon of the future. After Minshew\u2019s mostly-impressive stint earlier this season filling in for re-injured Foles, the Jaguars announced that the former Super Bowl champion would be benched in favor of the rookie this week.<\/p>\n

It shouldn\u2019t be so surprising that Foles, who will be 31 in January, couldn\u2019t get the job done in Jacksonville. But the shameful waste of $88 million<\/a> on the newest benchwarmer is the real bummer. Minshew has better chemistry with the offense, is obviously younger, and displays leadership qualities that Foles, who spent the last two years as a backup, only earning his first ring because of Carson Wentz<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s injury, doesn\u2019t display as conspicuously. His signing seemed impulsive and probably shouldn\u2019t have happened.<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones would face similar challenges on the Jaguars offense that he has with the Giants. While Leonard Fournette<\/a><\/strong> is a force, the Jaguars lack depth at the wideout position. Chris Conley<\/a><\/strong> seemed like a bright spot for a while, but he and his fellow starters Dede Westbrook<\/a><\/strong> and D.J. Chark<\/a><\/strong> are all questionable heading into Week 14. While the Jags could have swept up Jones had the Giants not, they made a stellar selection in Josh Allen, who\u2019s proven himself to be an invaluable asset to their 4-3 defense. And they found swamp-town Freddy Mercury in the process. Suffice it to say, Jones wouldn\u2019t have been any different in Jacksonville than he is in East Rutherford.<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones the Redskin<\/h3>\n

Dwayne Haskins got screwed as the second-best quarterback prospect in this year\u2019s draft. He made it out in the first round; the Washington Redskins<\/a> selected him 15th<\/sup> overall. But Simba was projected to go far sooner, and by many, to the Giants, the team he\u2019d supported through his entire upbringing. He only started for one year at Ohio State but filled some big shoes in his accurate and agile performances. Maybe he wasn\u2019t mobile enough for the Giants, or maybe Dave Gettleman<\/strong> sat through OSU\u2019s inexplicable loss to Purdue. But to the Redskins Haskins begrudgingly went. Less than thrilled with the outcome was the former Buckeye, and less than enthusiastic were the Redskins about their draftee.<\/p>\n

Haskins had a rough start to his rookie year, stepping in for Case Keenum<\/a><\/strong> when he was benched in Week 4, but was named the starter in Week 9 after Keenum sustained a concussion. He leads the squad ahead of Keenum and Colt McCoy<\/a><\/strong>. Haskins\u2019 stats don\u2019t exalt him yet, but Pro Football Focus ranked the rookie the second-best passer of Week 13, only behind Deshaun Watson<\/a><\/strong>. He\u2019s quickly getting his groove as the Redskins climb up the rickety ladder of the NFC Least (see what I did there?) and contend for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Please hold while I throw up.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

Okay, I\u2019m back. Look, the Redskins may be deplorably bad in comparison to the rest of the league, but they\u2019re officially ahead of the Giants in the division. Haskins has assisted the team to a two-game winning streak, and that has to account for something. Derrius Guice<\/a><\/strong> is having a solid sophomore season, alternating at running back with veteran Adrian Peterson<\/a><\/strong>. Similarly to the Denver Broncos\u2019<\/a> outlook with rookie Drew Lock new at the helm, the Redskins are lacking the receivers and tight ends to really break out and score points.<\/p>\n

If the Redskins had drafted Daniel Jones, he probably wouldn\u2019t have seen the field this year. The team put Haskins in as a burner, having prepared to keep him on the bench until he was \u201cready,\u201d but played him in favor of McCoy because of outside pressure. If Daniel Jones was starting games, why couldn\u2019t Haskins get a shot? Had the quarterbacks been on alternate teams, that pressure would not exist simply because of Jones\u2019 draft-period reputation, and McCoy would be keeping the offense afloat while Jones was trained to Jay Gruden\u2019s<\/strong> standards. And in which case, it\u2019s also fair to assume that Gruden wouldn\u2019t have been fired.<\/p>\n

Maybe this scenario would have better suited Jones. Sure, he wouldn\u2019t have the opportunity to learn beneath a championship-winning veteran like Manning. But he also wouldn\u2019t be hurt right now and would be in on the ground floor of what\u2019s likely going to be a very young team in the coming year or two, while the Giants have seemingly been in rebuild for the last half of the decade, with no end in sight.<\/p>\n

Daniel Jones as a Patriot<\/h3>\n

Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong> did not fall off a cliff, and he won\u2019t. His decline this year is more of a stumble and tumble down a steep, bumpy hill riddled with boulders and crabgrass. There\u2019s no denying that FINALLY, after years of speculation and retaliatory chants of \u201cWe\u2019re still here!\u201d it seems the prince of football\u2019s reign is coming to a close. Behind him stand Jarrett Stidham<\/a><\/strong> and Cody Kessler, underwhelming gun-slingers with \u201cbackup\u201d likely to precede their names for the next eight to 10 years. The New England Patriots<\/a>, the prize franchise of the NFL, are hanging up their helmets; their Lombardi Trophies aging in their display case, preparing to accumulate layers of dust.<\/p>\n

Honestly, it\u2019s upsetting to see, regardless of one\u2019s fandoms and affiliations. It didn\u2019t have to be this way. The team has had multiple opportunities to acquire a suitable heir to Brady after trading Jimmy Garoppolo<\/a><\/strong> a couple of years back. Their first-round selection of N\u2019Keal Harry<\/strong><\/a> in this year\u2019s draft hasn\u2019t shown fruit yet, and he\u2019s just one of the receivers that have matriculated through the locker room at Gillette Stadium over the year so far. Harry, the youngest, missed the first half of the season on injured reserve while Josh Gordon<\/a><\/strong> (now on IR himself), Phillip Dorsett<\/a><\/strong>, Julian Edelman<\/a><\/strong>, and even Antonio Brown<\/a><\/strong> caught passes from Brady. The recent acquisition of Mohamed Sanu<\/a><\/strong> was just another move that begs the question: Are the Patriots thinking about their future at all?<\/p>\n

They lost Rob Gronkowski<\/a><\/strong>, and have yet to find a suitable tight end to replace him. Sony Michel<\/a><\/strong> and James White<\/a><\/strong> have collectively left much to be desired from the run game. But why, with names like these on the roster, is the Patriots\u2019 offense in such disarray? At least three of these six current players have future Hall of Fame potential. It\u2019s got to be Brady. There is no longer an argument that favors him being the driving force of this offense. Maybe what the team needed this year was a breath of fresh air to inspire some creativity. Maybe that breath of fresh air could have been Daniel Jones.<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 strength on his feet and capability of a broad array of throws would rekindle the spark of an aging but still capable offensive corps like the Patriots. He has a Brady-like air of leadership\u2014passionate, but wholesome. And like Brady, who would thrive as a mentor to a young quarterback, he\u2019s had to overcome a large amount of adversity in the beginnings of his career. Imagine the dimes he could throw to Edelman and the big plays he could make with Sanu or Harry running deep corner and post routes. And over the coming years, as some of the more seasoned players gradually begin to hang up their cleats, he\u2019d make new connections with the first-class pool of receiving talent coming up. It\u2019s a far reach, but hard not to, admittedly, kind of love.<\/p>\n

Back to Reality<\/h3>\n

But alas, here we are in Week 14, and holding strong the last-place ranking in the NFC East. And Jones is hurt. And Manning is playing against the Eagles this week. And like it or not, it\u2019s hard to see a light at the end of this long, concrete MetLife Stadium tunnel. The offensive line, permeable. The run game, meh. The receiving corps, riddled with injury. How do we fix it? Well, we can\u2019t this year. Fresh out of time and resources, we stand, staring down the barrel of Pat Shurmur\u2019s gun. Loyal fans will paint the coming week (potentially weeks<\/em>)\u00a0with optimism, rolling out the floats and striking up the band for the Eli Manning goodbye parade.<\/p>\n

Manning would, could, and should play out the rest of the regular season, but Shurmur won\u2019t have that. He\u2019ll continue to put pressure on the \u201cfuture of the franchise\u201d Jones, and senselessly. After all, the likelihood that Sterling Shepard will return next year is slim with his head injuries being rightfully taken so seriously. And the offensive line will need to be rebuilt once more, so there\u2019s not a whole lot to accomplish by way of practice. The Eagles sometimes-ferocious defense will be faced twice in the four weeks remaining of the regular season, and between those two matchups are the Miami Dolphins<\/a> and the Redskins. At this point, there is little to be gained from putting Jones in the hot seat.<\/p>\n

In his first press conference in weeks, Manning asserted his readiness to perform. He\u2019s still practicing, working out, and conspiring with Jones<\/a> to make the most of the playbook. But while it will be nice to see Eli shoot his shot for one more round, and despite his enthusiasm to get back on the field, it\u2019s not going to be pretty. Let\u2019s make a realistic comparison, shall we? [Click tweet for full thread.]<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Eli Manning starting on Monday… a comparative thread. <\/p>\n

Picture this. You\u2019re a bartender. It\u2019s Friday night but there isn\u2019t a lot on the books. You show up to work but the manager says they don\u2019t need you. \u201cBut you\u2019re more than welcome to hang out!\u201d<\/p>\n

— kata stevens (@katastevens) December 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n