The New York Giants are in a tough spot this season, and all eyes are on their quarterback, Daniel Jones.
After a rocky start, Jones has shown signs of improvement, but is it enough to keep his job safe?
Head coach Brian Daboll has been singing his praises after the Giants’ 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks, but there’s still a lot of doubt hanging in the air.
So, let’s break it down.
In the game against the Seahawks, Jones completed 23 out of 34 passes for 257 yards, threw two touchdowns, and even ran for 38 more yards.
Plus, he didn’t give the ball away—not a single interception or fumble.
For a guy who’s been under fire (and not just from the defense), that’s pretty impressive.
Daboll wasn’t shy about giving Jones credit, saying how his toughness and competitive spirit stand out.
“Any time a quarterback does that, you got to be smart about it. But he’s a true competitor,” Daboll said.
“There was a play a couple of weeks back, him pushing on the go line in Cleveland. He’s a competitive young man, who, again, Daniel Jones has done everything that we and I have asked him to do. He’s here early. He stays late. He’s got good leadership traits.”
He pointed out a moment from a few weeks ago when Jones pushed hard at the goal line in Cleveland, which evidently shows he’s not afraid to put his body on the line for the team.
Without question, that kind of energy rubs off on everyone, and Daboll definitely trusts him with the ball, even without their top receiver, Malik Nabers, in the lineup.
But here’s the thing: Giants fans and the team are still a little unsure about Jones.
Why?
Because the Jones we saw in his rookie season, slinging the ball downfield and taking big risks, hasn’t been around much lately.
Back in 2019, he was known for his bold throws, like the insane 42.5-yard pass to Darius Slayton against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It was one of those plays that made you think, “Okay, this guy could be our next franchise quarterback.”
Since then, though, it feels like we’ve been watching a different player.
Jones has become a lot more careful, maybe even too careful.
The coaching staff spent much time drilling into him the importance of protecting the ball and not turning it over.
And it’s worked—he’s cut down on mistakes—but the problem is that he’s also stopped taking big, game-changing risks anymore.
But Darius Slayton, the man who’s been there with Jones from the start, gets it.
“Every day somebody’s telling you, ‘Hey, don’t turn it over. Don’t turn it over,’” Slayton said, explaining that when that’s all you hear, you naturally start playing it safe.
The problem is that playing it too safe has taken some of the spark out of Jones’ game.
He used to air it out for deep plays regularly, but now his air yards per attempt are much lower.
Back in 2019, it was 7.8 yards; now it’s down to 6.0 or so.
And sure, this has helped reduce turnovers, but it’s also taken away some of the excitement and big-play potential that once made Jones stand out.
It goes without saying: the Giants need someone who can make big plays happen, especially when the game’s on the line.
Jones knows this, too.
He’s trying to find a balance between being careful with the ball and still taking shots downfield.
“You don’t want to lose that gunslinger mentality,” Jones said, and he’s right.
Now, here’s where things get really interesting.
The Giants have made it clear: this is a make-or-break season for Jones.
General Manager Joe Schoen has openly said they need to know if Jones is the guy for the next decade or if they need to start looking for someone else.
And to make things more tense, Daniel Jones’ contract has an out clause after this season, meaning the Giants could move on from him without too much financial damage if he doesn’t prove himself.
There’s even been some buzz about possible trades.
Rumor has it that the Giants could consider pursuing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson if the Pittsburgh Steelers decide to keep Justin Fields as their starter.
Actually, the Giants talked to Wilson during the offseason, but he wasn’t interested in a backup role.
Now, if the Giants feel they’re just a quarterback away from making a serious playoff run, would they pull the trigger on a trade like that?
Well, for now, they need to look at what they will do with Jones.
He’s had some solid moments this season, especially in recent games against the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns.
And his quarterback rating is sitting in the middle of the pack, which isn’t bad, but it’s not great, either.
The Giants need more than “just okay” if they’re going to make a playoff push.
Thus, Coach Daboll has been focusing on getting the ball downfield more, which is a good sign.
In the last two games, the Giants have taken more shots downfield, something they didn’t do in Week 1.
Plus, Jones has been more decisive with his throws, which is exactly what the team needs to see.
But the question remains: can he keep it up?
Can he bring back that aggressive, confident style from his rookie season while keeping the turnovers low?
As we can see, the next few weeks will be huge for Jones and the Giants.
If he can step up and start delivering more big plays, he could still secure his future in New York.
But if he keeps playing it safe without any real improvement, the Giants might start looking elsewhere.
But there’s no denying that Jones knows the pressure he’s under.
“I’ve played more, seen more, studied and improved,” Jones said.
“Obviously, didn’t go great last time, but we’re confident it’s a new team. We’re excited for the opportunity.”
Right now, it’s all up to Daniel Jones.
The Giants are at a crossroads, and so is he.
If he can find that perfect mix of smart, safe play and the aggressive, risk-taking quarterback he used to be, he could still be the long-term answer for the Giants.
If not, well, the Giants might be forced to explore other options.
Stay tuned—this season could determine the fate of Daniel Jones and the future of the New York Giants.