Many NFL analysts and experts have panned the New York Giants’ decision to “ride or die” with quarterback Daniel Jones. The common gripe is that Jones is not worth the $40 million salary the Giants are paying him.
On the surface, that could be the case. Jones has had five years as the team’s starter and has yet to convince the outside world that he is the future at quarterback for Big Blue.
Injuries and inconsistency, combined with a merry-go-round within the coaching ranks, have led to Jones not playing up to his first-round pedigree.
Former NFL linebacker-turned-analyst Emmanuel Acho, who had a cup of coffee with the Giants in 2013, recently added another reason for Jones’ underperformance.
Daniel Jones is the only $40 million quarterback in the NFL that hasn’t had a pro bowl wide receiver or offensive lineman.
The Giants aren’t saying Daniel Jones is for sure the guy, but they are smart for making sure he’s not the guy before moving
“No quarterback succeeds at a high level without a dominant receiver or receiving threat,” Acho said, as transcribed by Sports Illustrated. “Daniel Jones is the only $40 million quarterback that ain’t got no Pro Bowl wide receivers.
“He also has no Pro Bowl offensive linemen. That’s not a Daniel Jones issue. So, Daniel Jones is the only quarterback in the National Football League making $40 million that had no Pro Bowl wideout and no Pro Bowl [offensive lineman].
“So if you really want to assess Daniel Jones, give him the complete and fairest shot possible, which is giving him the opportunity to have Pro Bowl talent at wideout and have Pro Bowl talent on the offensive line.”
Giants general manager Joe Schoen is aiming to rectify that. He selected LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall selection in this year’s draft and has added some veteran pieces to the offensive line.
Last season, Jones was limited to just six starts, tearing his ACL and missing the entire second half of the season. The Giant also suffered an unusually high number of injuries along the offensive line. They allowed 85 sacks, the most in the NFL in nearly 40 years.
Jones is still rehabbing his knee but is expected to participate at a high level in training camp in three weeks. The Giants will know more when the pads come on and the action speeds up.
Either way, it’s a put-up or shut-up year for Jones.
