It is not a surprise that the New York Giants refused to pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Daniel Jones, choosing instead to put that option on defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence. Through his first three seasons, Jones, who former general manager Dave Gettleman took with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft, has completed 62.8% of his passes, and thrown 45 touchdown passes to 29 interceptions. He’s also had a bevy of offensive coordinators, played in mostly dumpster-fire offenses, and had not been given the coaching required to advance his skills to the point where you could call him a franchise player at the position.
Jones is an unopened book in a lot of ways. Lawrence, who the Giants took with the 17th pick in that same draft, is absolutely the better player.
So, again, it’s not a surprise that the Giants left Daniel Jones hanging. What’s interesting about the announcement is the timing. When you let the world know that you’re in open-season mode for a quarterback on the day of the first round of the 2022 draft, and you have the fifth and seventh picks in said draft… well, that’s where things get a little fascinating.
