Brian Daboll will try to keep from gazing dreamily at Jayden Daniels on Sunday, but it will be difficult for him.
Daboll will be like everyone else who cannot take his eyes off Jayden Daniels.
Daniels, the second-overall pick in the 2024 draft, is the electrifying rookie franchise quarterback phenom who has changed everything for his franchise.
There is a lot to like about Daniel Jones. He is smart, tough and dependable, and has been from Day 1. He says and does all the right things in the eye of the relentless New York storm, and he shows up every game day as the best version of Daniel Jones.
But Daboll and disgruntled-again Giants fans at MetLife Stadium will look at Jayden Daniels leading the first-place Commanders and be stricken with franchise-quarterback envy.
Because Giants fans will be the first to tell you that Daniel Jones, in the midst of his sixth season as Eli Manning’s successor, has not changed everything for the Giants.
And now Jones is a lame duck franchise Giants quarterback living on borrowed time. He is the starting quarterback who gives Daboll and the Giants their best chance to win, until he isn’t.
Their best chance to win hasn’t resulted in enough wins. With each loss, as the 2-6 Giants inch closer to playoff elimination, Jones’ last-gasp grip on his dream job becomes that much more DEFCON 1 precarious.
The dark cloud lurking over his head is that $23 million injury guarantee for 2025 that becomes fully guaranteed if he is injured and unable to pass a physical in the offseason.
Once the Giants are eliminated from the playoffs, it will make no sense for Daboll and GM Joe Schoen to let Jones keep playing.
A potential doomsday scenario for Jones would be losing to Daniels then losing in Germany to the 1-7 Panthers. The risk-reward would then weigh heavily on Daboll thanking Jones for his 2022 playoff win and handing the keys to Drew Lock, with Tommy Cutlets food for thought as well.
Daniel Jones is on the brink.
Daboll’s patience waiting for points and wins is wearing thin. He hasn’t been able to stop moaning about third down and explosives.
It is maddening to Daboll that even with dynamic rookie receiver Malik Nabers, and a more experienced and cohesive offensive line, Jones not only is 0-4 this season at MetLife Stadium, he has yet to throw a touchdown pass. The Giants have scored 31 total points in four home games. The Commanders in four home games have scored 113.
Daboll takes great pride in his play calling, and scoring 31 points in four home games goes on his résumé, too. Commanders play-caller Kliff Kingsbury may get another head-coaching opportunity thanks to Daniels.
Daniels is an instinctive, dual threat-playmaker. He brings a joy to the field and clearly has fun playing the position. He makes it look smooth and easy.
It too often seems to be an uphill battle for Jones. He labors to find sustained success during the course of a game, and too often short-circuits when he needs to grab a winning-time moment by the throat. Everyone admires his commitment and dedication and determination.
Alas, he is the no-medals-for-trying quarterback.
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Daboll gushed about Daniels on Wednesday: “Well, he’s one of the better quarterbacks in the league already. He’s got great vision. He can throw the ball in any area he needs to throw it. He can throw it under pressure. He can escape and make plays with his feet. He can escape and make plays with his arm. He’s got good command, which we knew. He was a smart guy when we spoke with him. He’s playing really well, at a high level. You can tell there’s a lot of confidence in him. He has a lot of yards per attempt — 8 ¹/₂, which is really good. He makes good decisions. He does a lot of good things.”
The QB class of 2025 is considered thin at this juncture. Daboll and GM Joe Schoen better find a way to get this one right with what will likely be a Top 10 pick. Daboll has known all along that Daniel Jones is not Josh Allen. It is not lost on him that he is not Jayden Daniels either.
Daboll has known all along that Daniel Jones is not Josh Allen. It is not lost on him that he is not Jayden Daniels either.
Franchise quarterback envy for Brian Daboll.
