The NY Giants passed on Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft, and now must hope that Daniel Jones can take the same leap Allen did in year three of his career.
Quarterback position has been a center for NFL Draft controversy for the NY Giants – after GM Dave Gettleman shocked the football world two consecutive years while addressing it. First, passing on highly regarded prospects to select a running back second overall, and then surprisingly drafting Duke’s Daniel Jones at sixth overall the following year.
It was a roller coaster ride to get here, but now the NY Giants are entrenched at a crossroads.
Above all other things, Gettleman’s tenure hinges on whether Jones is the guy to lead the Giants into the future, and back to competing for Super Bowls.
Currently, the former Duke Blue Devil hasn’t done enough to convince the team in either direction – but a year three Josh Allen-esque leap can do the trick.
Gettleman’s decision to pass on drafting a quarterback in favor of Saquon Barkley has been repeatedly torn to shreds. Although players like Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have left a lot to be desired, others including Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson have forced the moans and groans of the ‘should’ve drafted a quarterback’ crowd to grow louder.
Ironically, Allen’s first two years were similar to Jones’ – some flashy plays to go along with some ugly turnovers, leading to a front office unsure of what they have. Allen’s Bills did more winning, but they also had a much more talented team around him.
So how did Allen go from a middling quarterback prospect trying to find his groove to a MVP candidate about to play in the AFC Championship Game? His front office and coaches gave him all the tools to do so.
So many times we’ve seen promising quarterback prospects enter terrible situations and suffer setbacks – just look at two prospects who were linked to the Giants in Darnold and former Washington quarterback, Dwayne Haskins. This off-season, the Giants’ have to ensure that Jones’ third year teeters more towards Allen’s performance than Darnold’s disappointing campaign.
Jones has shown signs of being a capable quarterback in the NFL, so how can the Giants help him take that leap? Here are three ways they can turn their faith in Jones from a question mark, to an exclamation point.
NY Giants must add a game-breaking wide receiver
There isn’t a bigger need on the NY Giants’ roster than the need to get a number one wide receiver.
Free agency or the NFL Draft – it doesn’t matter how they do it, but they have to get Daniel Jones his guy.
There’s not a move that had a bigger impact on the Buffalo Bills, and maybe the entire league, then trading for former Minnesota Vikings receiver, Stefon Diggs. The statistics back it up – 127 receptions, 1,535 yards and 8 touchdowns later, the Bills make that trade over and over again.
The acquisition of Diggs, the league leader in yards and receptions, also opened things up for Allen to find his other receivers. It led to a second team All-Pro year from slot receiver Cole Beasely, as well as a solid rookie year from Gabriel Davis.
So who can the Giants get that can help fill that role that Diggs plays for the Bills?
First, in free agency, there’s two options that stand above the rest – Chicago’s Allen Robinson, and Detroit’s Kenny Golladay. If either one isn’t franchise tagged by their team, they should jump to the top of the Giants’ wish list.
Robinson has continued to perform despite the play of his quarterbacks, which is a list as bad as the famed Cleveland Browns quarterback jersey. After years of Blake Bortles in Jacksonville and Mitchell Trubisky/Nick Foles in Chicago, Jones could potentially be the best signal caller he’s played with.
Detroit’s Matthew Stafford is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league, and Golladay has been his favorite target over the last couple seasons. Although 2020 was a lost season due to injury, he put up thousand yard seasons the two years prior – including a double digit touchdown, pro bowl season in 2019.
While free agency offers great options, this year’s draft class features an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position. If the Giants don’t go with a veteran like Diggs, a rookie like the man who replaced Diggs in Minnesota, Justin Jefferson, wouldn’t be too shabby.
At the 11th overall pick, Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle could be in play, as well as LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase. Even the tight end-wide receiver hybrid, Florida’s Kyle Pitts, could be an option.
There’s simply no excuse not to get Jones a new top option at receiver. Currently, the Giants don’t have anyone that instills fear into a secondary, which affects the entirety of the offense.
Diggs helped Allen evolve, changing the face of the Bills as a whole. A top receiver can help do the same for Jones and the Giants.
Build an offense around Jones’ strengths
Have you found yourself watching offenses in the NFL playoffs and wondering what this sorcery is?
After suffering through the ‘offense’ the Giants put on the field last season, you might think you’re watching a different sport entirely.
Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett needs to get with the times – a lot has changed since the last time he was calling plays. It got so bad that he even had fans calling for the return of Pat Shurmur last season.
The scheme needs a makeover worse than ever. If the Giants don’t bring their offense into the year 2021, then it doesn’t matter who they sign/draft.
One of the evolutions that we need to see in 2021 is a bigger focus on the downfield passing game. One of Jones’ biggest strengths his rookie year was his ability to push the ball downfield – that almost disappeared this season.
Some of it might’ve been the personnel, but we saw a noticeable drop-off in plays designed to go deep. Garrett’s offense focused on short to intermediate routes and run plays – a far cry from the plays that made Jones look so promising after year one.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, is getting head coaching interviews because of his ability to play to Josh Allen’s strengths. Garrett’s reputation precedes him – a smart, proven coach in the league, but that’s all he has if he can’t revamp his offense.
With the return of Saquon Barkley and an influx of talent on the offensive side of the ball, there should be no excuses for Garrett to get the offense humming. If Jones hopes to take that year three leap, Garrett may be the most instrumental.
The best plays for the Giants’ offense this year were made by Jones and his legs.
While he’ll never be what Lamar Jackson is to Baltimore, Jones kept defenses on their toes while running the option and his scrambling ability. The Giants’ offense was at their best when Jones was able to use that athleticism – and at their worst when he was unable due to injury.
The way Buffalo uses Josh Allen’s athleticism should be the exact way the Giants use Jones’. It’s their secret weapon – and some of their best plays come out of exploiting it.
The Giants’ did use Jones’ athleticism to their advantage this season, but it was just about the only thing that worked in their advantage on offense. Instead of using it as basically their whole offense, it would be vital for them to use it ‘in addition to’ instead.
Injury concerns rise with Jones’ running ability, but we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks have the same ability but use it to their advantage. Aside from Allen, Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield have become experts at using athleticism to maneuver the pocket and pick up first downs.
The Giants’ 31st ranked offense was even worse when Jones wasn’t on the field this season, so finding the balance where he can use his athleticism and stay on the field is vital to next season.
In 2019, the Bills offense didn’t exactly scare anyone – it was ranked 23rd in points and 24th in yards. After the addition of Diggs and the changes by Daboll, they jumped to second overall in each category.
The Giants’ offense has potential to make a Bills-esque jump, but it only happens if Jones makes an Allen-esque leap. If they’re able to get him a WR1, evolve the offense and use his athleticism, the results will come.
A lot of critics soured on Allen after last season – he was just a big, inaccurate quarterback who held his team back. Jones has the same chance Allen did – a chance to shut up his critics, strengthen his claim on the starting job and take his team to the next level.
If the Giants can do right by their signal caller, it may be Jones who’s making the spectacular plays in the playoffs next season.