The Giants are fairly certain Daniel Jones will be “good to go” when the team begins spring practices after missing the final six games of 2021 with a neck sprain.
That said, it’s a big year for Jones, who will know by May 2 whether his fifth-year option has been picked up or if 2022 will be potentially his final season with Big Blue – and his third head coach in four seasons is ready for whatever this season is to be a big one for Jones.
"We've seen Daniel here the last few years. I think Daniel has good athleticism, he's made some really good throws," head coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday. "I'm sure there's plays he wants back, just like everybody. I think going into it right now, we've kind of got it set the way we want it set right now. We forge ahead, we teach it accordingly, and have confidence in the players we have."
Danny Dimes was the No. 6 overall pick in 2019, and while he has had his issues, one – specifically his issues with fumbles – has gotten better. Jones had a 64.3 percent completion percentage last year, but threw seven interceptions against 10 touchdowns and still had seven fumbles, so ball security is something the team will look to help him improve.
"I don't make excuses for anybody, but I think you really have to go back and dive into the cause of some of the turnovers," Daboll said. "Some are decision-making turnovers we can try to fix, but some are receivers falling down, or a tipped ball, or some great play by the defense. In terms of the fumbles and why and how we’re fumbling it, you do drill work to try to improve that. To me, the most important thing come Monday is a fresh start for everybody."
Jones’ durability has also been an issue, as he has missed 10 games over the last three seasons due to a variety of injuries, including a hamstring, an ankle, a concussion that he was able to return from without missing any time, and the neck injury.
The Giants’ backups over the last two seasons haven’t exactly inspired confidence, going 1-7 with the only win Colt McCoy’s upset of Seattle in 2020, so that’s why Big Blue went out and signed veteran Tyrod Taylor to a two-year deal.
Make no mistake, it’s Jones’ show, but GM Joe Schoen knew it was “a priority” to find a capable backup, something he hammered from Day 1.
“Where I was last year, we got a little bit lucky at the value that we were able to get at what we thought was a good player at that value,” Schoen said, referring to the Bills adding Mitchell Trubisky to back up Josh Allen. “I go back to my time in Miami, Ryan Tannehill tears his ACL, but Matt Moore came in, kept the season alive, and we went to the playoffs. I think that’s an important position to have where someone can come in and steady the ship and win a few ballgames for you and it doesn’t completely decimate your season.”
The Giants hope they actually have two, as beyond Tyrod Taylor, Daboll praised recently-signed Davis Webb, who spent last season on the Bills’ practice squad alongside fellow current Giant Jake Fromm.
"I saw a lot of him in Buffalo in terms of him on the field in practice settings and then I’ve seen him as a teammate, and he's the best teammate that I’ve ever seen,” Daboll said.
One other thing the new brass hopes will help Jones? A more stable offensive line, which has seen the addition of at least three new starters around entrenched left tackle Andrew Thomas, with several more depth pieces added as well.
Daboll said the team is “still looking to add” a tackle, and with two picks in the Top 7, five in the first 81, and nine overall in this year’s draft, a new right tackle (or even two) looks like a probability.
Whatever comes from that, Daboll and Schoen are looking forward to spring practices beginning early next month to get a first true sense of where they stand.
“It’s a real advantage, getting to be around guys in the building for three or four weeks before the draft and having a veteran minicamp right before the draft,” Schoen said.
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