Daniel Jones
2021 is a pivotal season for Giants QB Daniel Jones. The former No. 6 overall pick has yet to firmly establish himself as a potential franchise quarterback through two seasons. New York has been steadfast in its commitment to him this offseason and hasn’t flirted with any of the other big-name quarterbacks who have come available.
But if Jones continues to turn the ball over more than he puts it in the endzone like he has so far, the Giants won’t be as patient with two first-round picks in 2022.
“He has 10 to 12 plays a season — and I remember talking about this coming out of Duke — where it’s panic time,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said via the Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “As a quarterback, you either panic with the football or you value the football. If he can get rid of those 10 or 12 plays a season that you sit there and go, ‘Dude, what the fudge?! I know you know that you shouldn’t do that. Why do you continue to do that?’ For a guy that’s athletic and smart, he has way too many turnovers.”
Duggan talked to a number of coaches who have worked with Jones who dismissed the idea that his problems stem from not processing quickly enough in the pocket. And the Giants have been happy with Jones as a leader. Orlovsky points out Jones did improve in the turnover department later in the season. While his athleticism is a real weapon, Orlovsky thinks Jones still has a limited ceiling to his game, albeit one that still could be good enough for the Giants to win with.
“I don’t believe he’s got the talent to ever be a top-five guy. But there are different ways to thrive at the position,” Orlovsky said. “His opportunity to thrive at the position is he does have to play very much a style of Drew Brees’ type of football. Now, he’s got the athleticism that can really be a beneficial thing, but that’s the only chance he has to thrive: if he becomes an absolute tactician with the football.”
- ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes the Giants’ No. 1 goal this offseason was to get Jones more help. While they added a cadre of skill position players in the draft and free agency, Raanan notes New York is gambling on internal development to improve the offensive line, especially after cutting veteran G Kevin Zeitler to save cap space.
Eagles
- ESPN’s Tim McManus writes the biggest question for the Eagles in 2021 is how new HC Nick Sirianni will handle the job. The 40-year-old Sirianni has never been a head coach at any level and McManus notes his staff is one of the youngest in the NFL. He adds Philadelphia is obviously a tough market to be a head coach in.
- The Athletic’s Bo Wulf has some doubts about how much the Eagles will feature QB Jalen Hurts‘ rushing ability in the offensive system.
Washington
- ESPN’s John Keim says the biggest variable for Washington in 2021 will be what they get out of the quarterback position. They signed veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick but he has not been to the playoffs with any of his previous eight teams.
- Short of a Rich Gannon-style late-career revival from Fitzpatrick, Keim says Washington also has QB Taylor Heinicke who was promising in his start in the wildcard game against the Buccaneers last season.
- Per Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Football Team has named Tanya Snyder as co-CEO along with her husband, team owner Dan Snyder.
- According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Washington has hired Drew Hampton as head equipment manager, Jeff Ruiz as a physical therapist, and Ashley Cohrs as player personnel assistant.
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