Daniel Jones needs to prove himself before Giants draft WR


There aren’t plenty of NFL Draft takes left on this burlap sack I name a mind, so my apologies if that is recycled, however is Daniel Jones deserving of a No. 1 large receiver? The New York Giants quarterback acquired paid this offseason, and now Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are caught — err, excuse me — have the privilege of constant his growth.

I’m not saying the Giants don’t want receiver assist. They desperately do. A lot of the completions final 12 months had been a results of scheme extra so than expertise, which resulted in Jones finishing a career-high 67 p.c of his makes an attempt. Daboll is so good at play design that plenty of the pondering is finished pre-snap, thus permitting Jones to function on primal intuition.

Properly, the identical may be mentioned in regards to the receivers. Why do you assume the Giants had been getting manufacturing out of form squad gamers a 12 months in the past? It didn’t matter who was on the sector, they’d run a sly rub play on a cornerback right here, somewhat misdirection within the flat there, perhaps Darius Slayton deep shot over right here, and whether or not the recipient caught it was extra usually depending on the throw than the receiver.

That tells me that the Giants don’t have to spend a first-round decide on a man who isn’t going to be Jones’ No. 1 boy as a result of the receiver class is spotty, and the first-round prospects want extremely functioning passers to be efficient.

In an effort to take full benefit of a Jordan Addison, you want somebody below middle who can dissect defenses in actual time like a Patrick Mahomes, or a Tom Brady. Each QB and wideout can run actually superior, AP Calc-level stuff like these possibility routes to get essentially the most out of the equation. I feel Danny Spare Change remains to be in Utilized Physics, making cardboard boats with the remainder of the washouts.

Whereas he might get (near) there ultimately, let’s be sure that he’s in a position to reap the benefits of a real No. 1 goal earlier than reaching on a prospect who’s in all probability not that to start with. New York doesn’t want one other Kenny Golladay or Evan Engram state of affairs the place they spend actual capital — first-round decide or wage cap area — on a gifted participant just for the QB to make the most of 25 p.c of mentioned goal’s abilities.

Can’t curate a sixth sense

One of the best passers within the historical past of sports activities — your Steve Nash, Andrés Iniesta, Nikola Jokić, Drew Brees, and so on. varieties — all have supernatural discipline vision. It’s artistry. They see issues occurring 12 steps forward, have the anticipation of a dove hunter, and are in a position to lead teammates with deliveries so well-placed they make you need to tip your Amazon driver.

Not one of the gamers talked about or attributes described within the earlier paragraph are relevant to Jones. One of the best-case state of affairs is he’s a much less prolific however safer (and extra fragile) Josh Allen. Clearly, an acquisition like Stephon Diggs helped Allen tremendously, however there isn’t a receiver of that caliber on this draft.

Actually, Diggs is an ideal comp as a result of Jones is extra more likely to high out at Kirk Cousins than ever attain Allen, and develop into a borderline MVP. Consider how annoyed Diggs was in Minnesota. He nonetheless put up numbers, but it felt like he wasn’t maximizing his potential.

No matter who the receiver was on a crew with Brady or Brees — if they’d an iota of capacity, the sign caller would discover a strategy to discover them. I don’t assume it’s a coincidence that Engram popped as soon as he discovered Trevor Lawrence, or that Golladay dipped as soon as he donned the Huge Blue. They should be paired with loads higher passers than Jones to advantage the price.

A coach pretty much as good as Daboll is offset by a QB as serviceable as Jones, so encompass the “franchise quarterback” with a number of extra misfit toys on a budget till a can’t-miss possibility turns into out there. The Giants’ wage cap is already fucked after the Jones deal, and Saquon Barkley is irritated as a result of he’s getting franchise tagged but they should maintain him. The specter of Barkley and the run recreation is what opens up holes for Jones to sprint by.

This isn’t the time to double down on earlier errors when it’s been confirmed that the offense may be profitable with Cousin Greg working drag routes. Actually any improve at receiver will really feel like an improve, and New York’s roster depth doesn’t precisely reek of San Francisco. Attempt to get a vertical menace later within the draft like Jalin Hyatt or Trey Palmer, and hope whoever can run a straight line, and catch deep balls that Slayton couldn’t.

No slight to Danny Jones. Properly, truly massive slight to Danny Jones. He wants $40 million a 12 months or no matter? Cool. I hope he likes cut price bin receivers as a result of he’s nonetheless determining the ahead go and there are wants elsewhere.