What More Does Daniel Jones Still Have to Prove to Silence Doubters?
Daniel Jones, Quarterback
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 232 pounds
2022 Stats: GP 16 / GS: 16. 317 of 472 (67.2%), 3,205 yards, 15 TDs, 92.5 QBR. 120 carries, 708 yards 7 TDs
After having his option year declined by the new Giants brass, Daniel Jones stepped up to the plate and delivered his best season performance in four seasons. He set new career highs in passing completion rate (67.2%) and yards (3,205) while posting a career-low five interceptions thrown.
Jones's game improved in many areas that had been an Achilles heel: pocket movement, ball security, throwing accuracy, ball-handling, decision-making, situational awareness, and knowing when to take a sack and when to throw it away.
An underrated aspect of Jones's game was his mobility, which helped turn a sagging red zone offense into a productive one. That, plus his leading the team to its first postseason berth since 2016—a berth that included a 31-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round—was all the Giants needed to reward Jones with a new four-year, $160 million contract signed in March just before the start of free agency.
Having been gifted some new playmakers in tight end Darren Waller and receivers Parris Campbell and rookie Jalin Hyatt, and a pure center in John Michael Schmitz, who should be the anchor of that offensive line for years to come, the next step for Jones is to breathe life into a passing offense that finished dead last in the league in big pass plays of 20+ yards (28) and to get more points on the board to increase the Giants’ average points scored from 21.5 per game, 0.4 less than the 21.9 league average points scored by offenses.
Best Case Scenario
Jones rapidly grew comfortable in the new offensive system implemented by head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, a system that was tailored to his strengths.
The challenge will continue to grow in that system and dispel any concerns about last season being a fluke. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka wasn't willing to share specifics as to what they've identified Jones needs to focus on to take the Year 2 leap in this system, but he did say there was a plan and that they're trying to work on all the little fundamental things with Jones.
Jones, who also managed to stay healthy for his first complete NFL season despite playing hard (his lone missed game came in Week 18 when all the starters were rested), has an opportunity to permanently erase what’s left of the doubters out there who think the Giants errored in signing him to a new deal.
Between his new playmakers and improved offensive line, plus the return of Kafka as his offensive coordinator and Shea Tierney, his position coach, optimism is sky-high that Jones has finally turned the corner and is not looking back.
Worst Case Scenario
If all that progress Jones made last season turns out to be a fluke, this team is in deep trouble. Jones’s contract might be a four-year deal, but the soonest the Giants can get out of it is after the 2024 season, the team standing to take an $18 million dead money hit if they must exit the deal early.
More importantly, if Jones flops moving forward, the team would potentially be looking at starting all over again with a player on his rookie deal, which, while financially wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, could set the franchise's progress back while the rookie got his feet wet at this level.
What to Expect in 2023
For as good as Jones was in 2022, he must ramp up his game to a whole new level in 2023 and beyond. This will likely include fewer designed runs to keep Jones from getting injured and more deep shots taken down the field, where his new playmakers should see loads of opportunities.
Jones also did a good job engineering some game-winning drives last year—of his nine career-winning drives, six (including in the team’s postseason win over the Vikings) came last season.
The next big step for Jones, besides opening things up? Running a productive offense from the pocket. The upgrade in talent should help with that, as Jones looks to quiet those last few grumbles of the naysayers and shed the “game manager” label he’s carried throughout the early part of his career.
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