Can Daniel Jones be saved with the right team and offense? | NFL

In each of the last three seasons, a quarterback who was drafted heavily but initially didn’t live up to expectations has begun to thrive in a new location with the right offensive and coaching staff.

In 2022, the Seattle Seahawks decided that the New York Jets’ 2013 second-round pick Geno Smith would replace Russell Wilson as their franchise quarterback after Smith suffered defeats with the Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers. Since then, Smith has been a plus-level starter in the Emerald City.

Baker Mayfield was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the first overall pick in 2018, fell out of favor with head coach Kevin Stefanski and was jettisoned in favor of Deshaun Watson, who joined the team in what could be the worst deal in NFL history. Mayfield had a nice cup of coffee with the Los Angeles Rams and then signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. Under offensive coordinator Dave Canales (who was instrumental in Smith’s professional rehabilitation and is doing the same for 2023), Bryce Young, the first overall pick out of Carolina) and now Liam Coen, Mayfield defines the Bucs franchise as much as any current player.

Sam Darnold, another Jets bust early in his career, was selected No. 3 overall by Gang Green in 2018 — two picks after Mayfield. Things never worked out for Darnold there and he was catapulted out of the building after three seasons in a trade to the Carolina Panthers. After two decent years with the Panthers and a stint with the San Francisco 49ers as a backup in 2023, Darnold found the perfect spot in Minnesota, where Vikings head coach and offensive lineman Kevin O’Connell has made the most of Darnold’s qualities to mask his deficiencies.

Could Jones be part of a similar feel-good story in 2025?

The Giants recently released the sixth overall pick for 2019 after a career of (mostly) subpar play. Jones has never looked like the guy. But to be fair, he also had to deal with three head coaches, four offensive coordinators and multiple offensive systems.

According to multiple reports, Jones (who cleared waivers, leaving any team that signs him without the weight of the four-year, $160 million contract he signed in 2023) would prefer to wait for the right situation – ideally with a team up Playoff level, which makes perfect sense. No reason to choose the first franchise that offers him a roster spot, especially if Jones were to find himself in a similarly difficult situation.

Smith, Mayfield and Darnold were able to remake their careers after landing on teams that built the right offenses around them. How can Jones’ second NFL team pull off a similar turnaround, most likely with the 27-year-old as the backup behind a bona fide star quarterback?

Make RPO a core concept

Jones isn’t the best field reader in the NFL and sometimes he waits too long to throw. But he is mobile and can win as a runner. He has 2,179 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in his career. Therefore, the run-pass option should be an important part of his next attack. This concept gives the quarterback the option to throw the ball, pass it to a running back, or run it himself, depending on how the defense is attacking. It also tends to limit the quarterback’s need to see the entire field, as most RPO passes are of the “quick play” variety.

This season, Jones has been relatively efficient as a passer and runner in RPO plays. He completed eight of 13 passes for 52 yards while gaining 42 yards on six carries as an RPO runner. Teams like the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, or Philadelphia Eagles, who post higher RPO rates, could be a good fit in this regard (again, we’re not saying Jones will replace Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, or even Bo Nix – but he could be a solid replacement, and this tactic would work if he came on as a replacement.

Make Jones game manager

The term “game manager” is generally considered derogatory because it denotes a quarterback whose physical gifts are unspectacular and who therefore needs to be protected by the coaching and talent around him. But every quarterback is a game manager to some degree, and even the greats are as sought after for their overall consistency as they are for their brilliance.

What does this mean for Jones? In his case, his next coaching staff will want to establish a consistent rhythm in his passing game, and that means avoiding the deep ball in favor of short and medium passes. Not only does this regulate Jones’ inconsistencies, but it also eliminates the aforementioned field-reading issues when plays take longer to develop and Jones starts to get overwhelmed.

Jones’ passing differences this season speak for themselves:

Passes under 10 yards: 172 completions on 247 attempts for 1,241 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions and a passer rating of 79.7.

Passes of 10-19 yards: 38 completions on 65 attempts for 613 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and an 87.5 passer rating.

Passes from more than 20 airyards: Six completions in 29 attempts for 216 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 66.7.

Intermediate passes are what Jones’ next team should lead with. At the same time, he should be easy to spot in red zone situations, making short pass numbers more complicated for any quarterback unfamiliar with converting in such condensed situations. The Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals have naturally excellent mid-level passing games. You can build from there.

Help Jones become a “messenger of trust.”

Former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman drafted Jones at No. 6 after Jones had a great week of practice at the 2019 Senior Bowl and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. One of the reasons Gettleman is the Giants player former GM’s point is that he placed more emphasis on an All-Star week in the three seasons at Duke in which Jones put up tape that was far more of the second-round or third-round variety.

This clearly placed Jones in overdraft territory. And while the money is much better in this area, it also tends to create an unfortunate dichotomy between what is expected and what can actually be achieved. Not everyone is Tom Brady, who was selected with the 199th overall pick and wanted to make everyone in the world pay dearly for this oversight.

In Jones’ final press conference as a Giants player, he read a statement apologizing for his overall performance and thanking the team. Jones was rightly praised for handling the situation professionally, but that’s a difficult way to end time with a franchise. And Jones’ confidence, which is crucial for a quarterback, could be affected. Not only is self-confidence crucial for a quarterback, his teammates also have to believe in his abilities.

For example, after a terrible rookie season in 2023, Young is turning things around with the Panthers this season, in part because his teammates now believe in him. After Young played his best game yet in a 30-27 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs last Sunday, veteran receiver Adam Thielen said of Young that he was “the ambassador of our confidence and what we can be.” , become. We love this guy and (we) appreciate his attitude this year.”

Wherever Jones goes, he will need the help of his new coaches and players to eradicate the football sins of the past. In short, the goal is to help Jones become an ambassador of trust. This aspect is mandatory for any quarterback hoping for professional redemption.