Year 3 of the Daniel Jones experiment has officially begun for the Giants. They opened training camp on Tuesday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey with the 24-year-old quarterback and the franchise at a crossroads.
Jones has to demonstrably prove this season he has the necessities to be a Super Bowl caliber QB or the franchise will undoubtedly be seeking his replacement next winter. The Giants currently possess substantial capital in the 2022 NFL Draft with two first round picks, a second round selection and two third-rounders. It positions the franchise to either draft or trade for a quarterback that can elevate them to a contender in the NFC.
Running back Saquon Barkley, who is returning from a season-ending ACL injury sustained in Week 2 last season, tight end Evan Engram, and wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are back, as the Giants have heavily invested in Jones’ success.
By signing former Detroit Lion Kenny Golladay this past March to a four-year, $72 million deal to be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, inking versatile running back Devontae Booker, who was with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, to a two-year contract, adding receiver John Ross, previously a Cincinnati Bengal, and erstwhile Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph via free-agency, as well as picking up wide receiver Kadarius Toney from the University of Florida with the 20th overall pick in this year’s Draft, Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, and general manager Dave Gettleman, have provided Jones a bevy of skill players to shine.
“I think at this level and in this job, we’re all expected to perform and play at a high level every day, and that starts today,” said Jones on Tuesday as shared by the Giants’ transcript. “I certainly feel that. I think everyone on the team does and I think that’s healthy, I think that’s the way it should be and I know we’re excited for the opportunity.”
Last season, the Giants finished 6-10 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Jones was inconsistent and battled through hamstring and ankle injuries. He played in 14 games, passed for 2,943, threw 11 touchdowns and had a 62.5% completion percentage. But ball security continued to plague Jones as it did in his rookie campaign. He threw 10 interceptions and had 11 fumbles, the latter tying him with the Raiders’ Derek Carr for the most by a quarterback.
For his career, a total of 27 games played, the 6’5” Jones, a major Division I high school basketball recruit coming out of Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, North Carolina before going on to play QB at Duke, has a poor touchdown to interception of 35 to 22 and has a problematic 29 fumbles. Nevertheless, the even-keeled Jones views being in the same system for the second consecutive season under head coach Joe Judge and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett as highly beneficial to his growth.
“I think it’s valuable for all of us,” he said. “I think it’s the second year in the system under coach Garrett and coach Judge. A lot of us are back and have developed chemistry and know how to communicate with one another.”
It is a make-or-break year as a Giant for Jones.