Daniel Jones has had a turbulent career with the New York Giants since being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft five years ago. Despite flashes of promise, his tenure has been marred by inconsistency and disappointing performances. Now, one prominent NFL insider believes that Jones will not get another opportunity to turn things around with the team.
During a Tuesday appearance on the “Unsportsmanlike” radio show with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty, and Michelle Smallmon, ESPN’s Adam Schefter made a bold prediction regarding Jones’ future. Schefter said he believes that Jones has likely played his last snap for the Giants.
“The quarterback situation, which has come up there, I would guess that we don’t see Daniel Jones play another down for the Giants,” Schefter said. “That would be my guess right now, because Brian Daboll’s tone (on Monday) was different than it was in other weeks. It was always, ‘Daniel Jones is our starter, Daniel Jones is our starter, Daniel Jones is our starter.’ And then (Monday), ‘We’re evaluating everything.’”
The Giants dropped to a dismal 2-8 record after a heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Jones struggled in the game, completing 22 of 37 passes for 190 yards with no touchdowns and throwing two interceptions. The loss only added to what has already been a frustrating season for both Jones and the Giants.
Head coach Brian Daboll seemed to express his frustration with Jones during a post-first quarter interview, appearing to shift blame toward the quarterback for the team’s offensive woes.
This marked a significant departure from Daboll’s typical stance, as he had previously been consistent in his support for Jones, publicly affirming Jones as the team’s starter through earlier struggles. However, Daboll’s tone on Monday appeared to change, as he refused to definitively say that Jones would remain the starting quarterback moving forward.
Daboll’s refusal to back Jones raised eyebrows, especially since the coach had repeatedly stood by the former Duke star even as the Giants floundered throughout the first half of the season.
Schefter pointed out that the change in Daboll’s tone could signal a shift in the team’s thinking regarding the quarterback position.
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Adding to the complexity of the situation is the financial aspect of Jones’ contract. The Giants are still on the hook for the remainder of Jones’ $35.5 million guaranteed salary for this season, a significant sum for a player who may no longer have the team’s confidence.
Yet, as Schefter noted, New York also has a serious financial incentive to bench Jones now that the team’s hopes for a playoff run are all but extinguished.
Benching Jones could allow the Giants to re-evaluate their quarterback options while also minimizing the risk of an injury that could further complicate their cap situation.
The uncertainty surrounding Jones’ future comes as the Giants are left to figure out their direction for the remainder of the season.
With a 2-8 record and the playoffs far out of reach, it appears that the team may begin to look towards the future, potentially parting ways with the quarterback who was once envisioned as the franchise’s answer under center.
As it stands, Daniel Jones’ future with the New York Giants remains uncertain, but the comments from Adam Schefter and the shift in Brian Daboll’s tone suggest that his time with the team could be coming to an end.
Whether the Giants decide to make a change at quarterback immediately or wait until the offseason, it seems increasingly unlikely that Jones will be the team’s starter moving forward.