New York Giants Football: Ranking Dave Gettleman’s top 10 moves
By Matt Clark
1. Drafting Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft
In what was perhaps the most controversial first round selection in recent memory, Dave Gettleman decided to fly in the faces of all of the so-called experts by selecting Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick. The selection was met with complete mockery, as most suggested it was a reach and that Jones could have been had much later than the sixth pick.
It would later come out that both the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos were interested in drafting Jones, so he likely would not have lasted until the 17th pick. However, that did not contain the disdain and contempt that Giants fans had for Gettleman due to his decision to pick Jones. Most Giants fans felt that pass rusher Josh Allen would have been the better pick at that position.
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Daniel Jones would do his best to silence all the critics, handling the criticism of the media and fans with the utmost professionalism. When the preseason rolled around, Jones would perform at such a high level, that he would make most people stop questioning the decision of Gettleman to draft him so high.
By week three, the struggling Giants would make the decision to move on from legendary quarterback Eli Manning, deciding instead to make a move to the future by inserting Jones as their new starter. Jones would reward them by going out and winning his first two starts, giving Giants fans faith that Gettleman had made the right choice, while giving a glimmer of hope for the future of the team.
While Jones hasn’t been able to lead the Giants to victory since those two games, his numbers have been impressive, as he has broken or stands to break a number of league and franchise records as a rookie quarterback. While turnovers continue to be an issue for the rookie signal caller, the future certainly looks bright for him if his offensive line can protect him and keep him healthy.
The success of Jones helps validate a number of other moves made by Gettleman, and truth be told many of those mistakes won’t end up mattering if the QB continues to flourish.