With The First Pick
Fansided

Like it or not, Daniel Jones will be a 1st-round pick

By Bryan Perez

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 24: Daniel Jones #17 of the Duke Blue Devils drops back to pass during the first half of a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 24, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 24: Daniel Jones #17 of the Duke Blue Devils drops back to pass during the first half of a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 24, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Duke’s Daniel Jones isn’t the first player mentioned when this year’s quarterback class is discussed, but he will be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

The 2019 NFL draft is expected to feature at least three quarterbacks in the first round, with Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray the likely first overall selection. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Missouri’s Drew Lock are jockeying for QB2 status and each could end up as top-10 selections.

Then there’s Duke’s Daniel Jones, who despite being the target of criticism by analysts throughout the NFL draft process, is expected to be the fourth signal-caller off the board, potentially as high as No. 15 overall.

Does Jones have the strongest arm in the class? No. But he’s as pro-ready a prospect as any of this year’s quarterbacks and while he may not have the jaw-dropping moments that Murray put on tape or the 50 touchdown passes that Haskins tossed in 2018, he has a skill set that more than warrants a top-20 pick and the confidence from an NFL team that he can be an above-average starter in the pros.

And remember: an above-average starter is very, very hard to find.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jones has already had private meetings with four quarterback-needy teams and a fifth one is coming soon.

“Duke QB Daniel Jones has had recent private meetings and workouts in Durham, NC with the Giants, Broncos, Dolphins and Chargers, per source,” Schefter tweeted. “He is also scheduled to visit the Redskins on Wednesday and Thursday.”

It feels like the floor for Jones’ draft stock is No. 17 to the Giants, but he might not even last that long. The Redskins at No.15 feel like a perfect match, especially considering Jones’ similar traits to Alex Smith, who Washington lost late last season to a gruesome leg injury.

And even if Jones slides past the Giants at No. 17, he’s going to be the player teams target with a trade back into the later portion of Round 1, much like the Ravens did last year for Lamar Jackson.

Jones is a safer NFL prospect than Lock, in my opinion, even if the upside is much lower. Lock has special arm talent, but his tape is too inconsistent to trust. Jones, on the other hand, is a well-coached accurate passer who will bore his way to a lot of success on the next level.

And yes, even a boring quarterback who wins is worth a first-round pick.

Home/NFL Draft News