The first-round of the 2019 NFL Draft has produced one superstar quarterback in Cardinals No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray. On the flip side, Dwayne Haskins fizzled out fast in Washington and is looking to save his career as a backup in Pittsburgh.
Somewhere in the middle with still a wide range of outcomes is Daniel Jones, whom the Giants took No. 6 overall out of Duke. Jones is still starting for New York in his third season, but it's also his final season to prove he can be the franchise's long-term No. 1 passer.
Jones has an 8-19 regular-season record going into Week 2 of 2021 in replacing two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning. Over those 27 games, Jones has committed 40 turnovers — 22 interceptions and 18 lost fumbles. Jones also has been sacked 85 times, an average of more than three times per game.
The numbers have not been pretty for Jones. There have been a few flashes with big passes and big runs, but the proficiency and the efficiency have not been there. They all add up to putting Jones on the brink of being a big NFL draft bust, unless he can turn things around quickly.
So what's gone wrong for Jones since he took over in Week 3 of '19 with an impressive winning comeback performance against the Buccaneers? Here's a breakdown of his first three seasons in the NFL:
MORE: Breaking down Daniel Jones' career turnover tendencies
2019 rookie season: Bad offensive line, injury and lame-duck scheme
The Giants have been trying to fix their front five for a while. They got left tackle Nate Solder and right guard Kevin Zeiter well past their prime with previous teams. Will Hernandez, a 2018 second-round guard, has underwhelmed on either side. Although 2020 No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas may be turning a corner in Year 2 to help at left tackle, he also wasn't there when Jones arrived.
Jones was sacked 38 times over 12 starts and didn't have time to throw anything deep, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. He got beat up over the course of the season, suffering a high ankle sprain in December that cost him two games.
On the positive side, Jones did have an acceptable TD:INT ratio of 24 to 12 and also directed two Manning-like game-winning drives as a rookie. Running back Saquon Barkley didn't match his spectacular rookie season, but he was still the effective centerpiece of the offense when healthy in his second season vs. having Jones sling the ball downfield often.
For the most part when not throwing to fellow rookie Darius Slayton, Jones was reined in as a rookie and not allowed to grow much under former offensive-minded coach Pat Shurmur and offensive coordinator Mike Shula, who had a past of conflicting concepts. That failure to get the best out of Jones cost Shurmur and Shula their jobs, with Joe Judge and former Cowboys offensive-minded coach Jason Garrett as their respective replacements. Unfortunately, the Giants have yet to see improvement from that new brain trust.
MORE: Will the Giants fire Joe Judge?
2020 sophomore slump: Not much help, more injuries and no Saquon
Jones' offensive line didn't offer better solutions in Year 2 with Thomas still getting his feet wet in the NFL and Solder deciding to opt out. There's been a glaring lack of continuity all across the line with the reshuffling at both tackles and center, an equal critical position for a young QB.
Garrett's plan was to go with the run-heavy offense he operated in Dallas with Ezekiel Elliott, only with Barkley as the new versatile workhorse. That was plan was ruined when Barkley struggled against the Steelers' mighty defense in Week 1 and went down with a season-ending torn ACL against the Bears in Week 2.
More was put on Jones as Slayton remained his best receiving option. Sterling Shepard traded the concussion that cost him games early in 2019 for turf toe. Shepard, a good hands route-runner who can boost any QB when healthy (see Week 1), missed 10 games the past two seasons. Tight end Evan Engram did help a second-year Jones as a security blanket after missing most of '19, but he's hurt again. The lack of 2020 weaponry, lowlighted by Barkley's major absence, put Jones on an island. The shaky protection, the limited targets and toggling between backs also made Jones take off and run more than ideal as the team's second-leading rusher.
There was a total system breakdown again and Jones wasn't immune to the injury bug, either, given the burden on him. Just like the previous December, Jones got hurt again, this time with a hamstring strain adding to more ankle woes. When Jones needed the most support to develop, he had the least. He was sacked 45 times in 14 times, at a higher rate per dropback with the same 6.6 yards per attempt.
MORE: NFL's coaching hot seat index after Week 1
2021 third-year crossroads: Are the Giants' changes giant enough?
Giants GM Dave Gettleman, who was under initial heat for making the high pick on Jones, did his best to improve things around his QB beyond the budding Thomas this offseason. The team spent big free-agent capital on former Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay and also used a first-round pick on Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney, after missing out on Alabama's DeVonta Smith.
The Giants also got a stronger backup for Barkley in former Bronco and Raider Devontae Booker and reinforced the complementary blocking and receiving at tight end with former Viking Kyle Rudolph. All that, plus the hope of Barkley coming back fully healthy and into rookie form, gave the Giants high expectations for Jones and the offense.
Jones wasn't bad in the opening 27-13 loss to the Broncos. He did lose another fumble in Week 1, but he looked more comfortable and confident in what's around him and also used his legs well again for a second TD. He was locked back into Slayton and Shepard, too.
The next step will be strengthening the connection with Golladay and Toney, who both were hamstrung and missed critical trainng camp time with their new QB. They offer extra big-play ability and red zone prowess. It also will be nice to have Barkley not limited coming back from his knee injury and seeing closer to 25 touches a game vs. only a dozen. Thomas played well against a tough Denver pass rush, but Solder was a disaster in his return, a shell of his former Patriots self at age 33. The immediate change there needs to be going with 2020 third-rounder Matt Peart at right tackle.
That's a ton of wholesale moves in a short period of time to try to support and fix Jones. But that's also because the Giants know they are running out of time with Jones. The jobs of Gettleman and Judge also are on the line with the lack of winning tied to the lack of offense.
Jones being more durable with better protecting and playmaking personnel is one big part of the equation. The other is getting the right play-calling from Garrett that takes full advantage of Jones' immense physical tools at 6-5, 230 pounds. If Garrett isn't the answer, the Giants need to make to change there, too, looking for one last offenisve spark for Jones.
This might be the only chance for the Giants to see the real Jones. Either the third time is the charm or the final misfortune — another high-upside QB going bust with a perfect storm of dysfunction.
