Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Daniel Jones, QB NYG

Name: Daniel Jones

Position: Quarterback

Pro Team: New York Giants

College Team: Duke Blue Devils

Draft Status: First round, sixth overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

• Height: 6’5”
• Weight: 221 pounds
• Arms: 33 1/2”
• Hands: 9 5/8 ”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.81 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 33 1/2”
• Broad Jump: 120”
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.00 seconds
• 20-yard Shuttle: 4.41 seconds

STRENGTHS

• Worked under QB guru David Cutcliffe in college
• Sound mechanics. Makes all throws despite average arm talent
• Works through progressions quickly and smoothly
• Accurate on throws to first two levels of the field
• Pre-snap reads are very good. Feels pressure in the pocket well
• Moves well in the pocket and can scramble when needed
• Feet move well. Keeps squared when going through progressions
• Stands and follows through with throws, even on impending hits
• Performed well despite inferior surrounding talent

WEAKNESSES

• Will often try to throw into impossible spots
• Average speed of release and wind up is slow and not ideal
• Doesn’t hang on to the ball tightly and has fumbled some in college
• Needs to slide more often. Took too many big hits when scrambling
• Had 12 passes batted down in 2018. Needs to work on trajectory
• Waits too long to throw at times. Needs to be more decisive
• Heavy play-action/RPO scheme at Duke; not the most pro-ready
• Will be under immense pressure to succeed with draft capital and team

OPPORTUNITIES

Jones started three years at Duke and was mentored by David Cutcliffe, the same coach who mentored the Manning brothers. Jones had solid numbers – he averaged 2,733 yards and 17 passing touchdowns over three seasons, rushing for 17 scores as well. His completion percentage was only 59.9% for his career but that number was affected by drops – his receivers dropped 38 passes in 2018 alone. Jones threw 29 picks over three seasons, mostly due to his willingness to take unnecessary chances.

He fared well in the draft process but didn’t overwhelm anyone. He tested average athletically for a quarterback and was impressive in interviews. The drills showcased his touch and he was one player who did particularly well throwing to the receivers – he hit multiple receivers in stride and ball placement on the outs was really strong.

The New York Giants surprised the league by selecting Jones with the sixth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. They had rumored interest prior to the draft but possessed two first-round picks. Selecting him at number six (as opposed to 17) was the surprise.

However, the Giants needed to find the successor to long-time starter Eli Manning – even if it wasn’t the ideal draft for them to find a franchise quarterback.

THREATS

The backup job is Jones’s to lose at this point and Ourlads lists him as the second in line in the depth chart, ahead of Alex Tanney and last year’s fourth-round pick Kyle Lauletta.

Jones needs some seasoning and would benefit from time behind Manning but if Manning continues to decline, New York will feel the pressure to rush Jones on to the field. He has the talent and a lot of the intangibles you seek in a quarterback but hasn’t faced strong competition or had the talent around him. The learning curve is big, and rushing him into a starting role would be a big risk.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

Jones will not see the field in 2019 unless things go seriously amiss for the Giants. The coaching staff has been steadfast in the declaration that Manning is still the quarterback and they won’t rush the young Duke pigskin-hurler onto the field.

If the wheels fall off and they start losing or Manning is injured, Jones will likely find himself starting on the biggest stage he has seen by far. If this becomes the case, it won’t be pretty and Jones still will not be a fantasy-relevant QB this season.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

A “game manager” is an ugly term often given to quarterbacks who don’t have the skill set or talent to take over a game and carry a team on his back. Jones will likely fall into this category and while occupying a backfield with uber-talented Saquon Barkley, it may not be enough in the Big Apple. Jones has the tools to be a competent quarterback but whether he has the killer instinct to carry a team to victory will be seen.

If he can find it, he could have a long career for the Giants. Manning was the game manager type of quarterback for many years but often found ways to win when the spotlight shined brightest, especially during his two Super Bowl runs. Jones has a long way to go until he can command the helm of a Super Bowl-winning squad but his tools along with his football intelligence could lead him to be a successful NFL quarterback.

From a fantasy standpoint, Jones will never be a QB1 and someone who can lead your fantasy squad. The ceiling statistically for him is 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 picks and those will be the better years unless he grows much more than he appears to be capable of. In this day and age, those numbers are fairly average.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

The Ryan Tannehill comparison is too uncanny. Both were raw out of college but both have talents to suggest they could be successful quarterbacks.

Both are mobile – more mobile than most would think. Both had good arms but not amazing arm talent and not the arm talent which you could succeed solely on. I believe Jones is a bit more cerebral and smarter whereas Tannehill was more athletically talented – but the parallels are definitely uncanny.

Another good comp for Jones in the man he was drafted to replace – Eli Manning – at least from an arm talent and mannerism standpoint.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

According to our Rookie ADP, Jones is currently 38.20 on average. He is the fourth quarterback drafted during rookie drafts. In Superflex rookie draft ADP, Jones is going at 24.89 in May ADP.

A third or fourth round pick in standard leagues and barely a second round in Superflex seems like a safe price to pay for a quarterback who has a clear path to being a starter likely next season in the NFL. Taking him at this point in drafts seems like a safe and smart gamble.