Getty Image / Mitchell Leff
Let’s face it, most New York Giants fans gave up on Daniel Jones after a rough 2023 season that saw him play just six games and throw two touchdowns and six interceptions. The problem with that is last year was the first year of a 4-year, $160 million contract with roughly half of that in guaranteed money.
That guaranteed money gave the Giants little choice but to start a replacement-level quarterback coming off of a torn ACL. In the team’s season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings, it became even more obvious that contract extension was a disaster.
Let’s go back to the offseason following the 2022 season. Jones had just had a respectable season, eclipsing the 3000-yard mark and throwing 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Most importantly, he led the Giants to a 9-7-1 record and an NFC Wild Card Round Playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings. That led GM Joe Schoen to sign him to that extension and not re-sign star running back Saquon Barkley to an extension, and put Barkley on the Franchise Tag instead.
Fast forward to now, and we can clearly see where they went wrong. The fact that for Jones to have an efficient season meant that he only threw for 3,205 yards meant that he clearly was being treated with kid gloves and wasn’t a real franchise quarterback that you should pay. Yes, his above-average mobility helped him in 2022, but that skill isn’t nearly good enough for a guy like Jones to get paid.
Yesterday, Jones was abysmal. He completed just 52.6% of his 42 attempts, threw two interceptions and a pick-six, and averaged just 4.2 yards per attempt in his 186 yards passing. That is, simply, not nearly good enough.
Just how bad has Daniel Jones been since the contract extension? He’s thrown more pick-sixes than touchdowns. That’s right, opponents are catching more touchdown passes from Daniel Jones than Giants players are.
Thankfully, the Giants can get out of the contract this year mostly unscathed. But, it will be another lost season in the Meadowlands for the Giants, and that’s at the feet of Daniel Jones.