Is there a QB competition brewing in New York?
By Bryan Perez
Daniel Jones is performing so well at the New York Giants minicamp that he’s already sparking conversation about whether he’ll challenge Eli Manning for the starting job in 2019.
What a strange few weeks it’s been for the New York Giants.
It feels like an eternity ago that GM Dave Gettleman was nearly booed out of New York for selecting Duke QB Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick. Yet here we are, and Jones could be playing himself into a legitimate quarterback controversy this season.
Yes, Jones has been that outstanding at the team’s mandatory minicamp, according to all reports from the ground.
https://twitter.com/Giants/status/1136037413350977536
Gettleman will have quite the smile on his face if Jones has the kind of preseason that forces the Giants to think long and hard about who gives the team the best chance to win.
More from New York Giants
- Could two former top RB draft picks hold out in 2023?
- 2023 NFL Season: Which players have the highest cap hits?
- 2023 NFL Offseason: Three big trades we could still see
- 2023 NFL Season: Day 2 rookies on offense poised to start
- 2023 NFL Season: Ranking the 32 starting quarterbacks
The clips shared by New York’s social media team show a few notable things. First, Jones is a really good athlete. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though. It was one of his strengths as a draft prospect. He’ll add a great wrinkle to the offense with his running ability, especially with all the attention defenses will pay to Saquon Barkley.
Second, his arm is legit. I never quite understood the critics who said he lacked a strong enough arm to project as a starting-quality quarterback in the NFL. And, yes, the throws he’s making in a minicamp setting aren’t quite the same as he’ll be expected to make once the pads go on, but they’re still a really good display of what he’s capable of. He puts some good zip on his passes and can drop the ball in a bucket.
There’s a long way to go before Jones can really be considered a threat to Manning’s gig, but he’s doing a good job winning over the fans (and even the media) in his first few outings with the team.