It’s fair of NY Giants fans to read this headline and immediately ball their hands up in a fist while yelling at their screens that it’s too early to call for Daniel Jones to be replaced.
It is too early at the moment.
Next offseason, though, could be a different story.
When Jones replaced Eli Manning in 2019 as the starting QB, he was able to deliver perhaps the most spectacular debut in Giants history at the position. He gave New York four touchdowns–two with his arms and two with his legs–and helped bring the NY Giants their first victory of the season.
The good vibes lasted all of two weeks, as the NY Giants would go on to win one more game before losing their next nine consecutively. This past season was a marginal improvement, as the NY Giants were able to win six games with Jones as the clear No. 1 option following Manning’s retirement, but they fell a game short of the Washington Football Team for the NFC East crown.
NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman went out and found several WR weapons for Jones in blockbuster free agent addition Kenny Golladay and first-round draft pick Kadarius Toney out of Florida after adding veteran TE Kyle Rudolph. With Saquon Barkley returning from a torn ACL and Devontae Booker forming a capable backfield platoon, Jones has no excuses for not taking the next step forward.
It’s possible that Jones doesn’t.
Just like with Sam Darnold and the NY Jets, Jones’ time with the NY Giants could be limited if New York’s four-year postseason drought doesn’t end.
In that scenario, these 4 2022 NFL QB prospects could be in the mix for the NY Giants’ 2022 NFL Draft strategy:
NY Giants’ Daniel Jones replacement #1: Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler could become the next Sooner QB to be taken with the No. 1 overall selection after Kyler Murray went first in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Murray was the only QB taken ahead of Jones, whose selection caused an uproar by those claiming Dwayne Haskins should have been the rightful pick after throwing 50 touchdowns with Ohio State in 2018.
As it turns out, those people were wrong, as Haskins is already a backup in Pittsburgh after failing to seize the starting role in Washington against the likes of Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke.
Either way, Rattler is a can’t-miss prospect that New York would have a tough time passing up if Jones bombs in his second full season as the Giants’ starting signal-caller. A 28:7 TD-INT ratio coupled with an extra six touchdowns scored with his feet makes Rattler the consensus top QB in college football in 2021.
Avoiding a down-year in his own third season would lead to a top spot in next year’s draft based on the expectations he is carrying for Oklahoma this upcoming season.
NY Giants’ Daniel Jones replacement #2: Sam Howell, North Carolina
UNC Tar Heels gunslinger Sam Howell has had sustained success in his two seasons starting in Chapel Hill as opposed to Rattler, whose 2020 season is the only basis we have on his NFL candidacy.
Howell has been lighting up the ACC, collecting 68 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in Carolina blue over his two years with the Heels. While he is knocked for his limited athleticism compared to Rattler, the same things were said about Baker Mayfield.
Things worked out for Mayfield in Cleveland, and given the Giants’ inclination to draft a pass-first pocket presence at the position, Howell could replace the Duke product Jones to further the Tobacco Road rivalry in the NFL.
NY Giants’ Daniel Jones replacement #3: JT Daniels, Georgia
If not for an ACL tear that prematurely ended his 2019 season at USC, we may have included JT Daniels on the first slide of this article. Unfortunately, that kind of issue is one that will have scouts thinking twice about his candidacy in the NFL Draft.
Now, granted, it might not be something that knocks him out of the draft altogether, and he shouldn’t see too much of a slide down draft boards. He should still be a first-round pick, given his status as the #2-ranked QB in the 2018 recruiting class behind It is significant, though, unless Daniels could have such a dominant 2021 season in the SEC that his injury history can be looked past.
Based off of a small sample size from the 2020 season, Daniels may be able to do so. He collected 10 touchdowns to just two picks, and put up 392 yards against a stingy Cincinnati Bearcats defense in the Peach Bowl.
New York may be able to get the steal of the draft if they are willing to be the team that takes a risk on him.
NY Giants’ Daniel Jones replacement #4: Dillon Gabriel, UCF
Dillon Gabriel made the most out of an unfortunate situation when he seized the UCF starting quarterback job after Mackenzie Milton was unable to play in 2019. In 2020, he and the Knights took a step back, but his star could take off in 2021 with new head coach Gus Malzahn in tow.
Malzahn’s offenses at Auburn were knocked in recent times because of QB consultant Jordan Palmer’s comments implying that Jarrett Stidham was among the least prepared QBs he’s seen because of Malzahn’s and Art Briles’ schemes. That said, he was the OC on the Plains under Gene Chizik when Heisman winner Cam Newton led the Tigers to the 2010 National Championship, so Malzahn does have a history of successfully coaching QBs as well.
If he can get the most out of Gabriel’s powerful arm, the the 3-star product could be a stealthy second-round (or later) selection for Gettleman and co.