Former head coach questions if Giants can win with Daniel Jones

Former NFL head coach and current ESPN personality Herman Edwards is among members of the football community questioning if quarterback Daniel Jones can guide the New York Giants to more than a single playoff victory.

"When you think about this offense, they were last in the National Football League in passing with explosive plays," Edwards said about Big Blue during an on-air segment, per Patricia Traina of FanNation's Giants Country. 

According to ESPN stats, the Giants finished their first regular season under head coach Brian Daboll ranked 26th with 185.7 passing yards per game. Jones, meanwhile, was tied for sixth among eligible players with a 60.8 adjusted QBR but tossed just 15 touchdown passes across 16 games. The 26-year-old also rushed for 708 yards and seven scores. 

Edwards added that New York's star offensive player is running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley was fourth in the NFL last season with 1,312 rushing yards and 295 carries. He scored 10 rushing touchdowns and caught a team-high (tied with Richie James) 57 passes for 338 yards. 

"So when you think about the Giants, trying to defend the Giants offense, the first thing you say is this: Stop the runner," Edwards continued. "If we can stop the runner, we can beat the Giants; make the quarterback throw the ball."

While the Giants gave Jones a four-year contract that could be worth up to $160M and includes an additional $35M in incentives this past March, Barkley has spent the past several months away from the club due to not signing his franchise tag. There reportedly is "optimism" the Giants and Barkley will come to terms on a deal before the July 17 deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players, but he is currently on track to earn $10.091M on the tag this coming season. 

As for Jones, the Giants are hoping new weapons such as tight end Darren Waller and wide receivers Parris Campbell, Jeff Smith and rookie Jalin Hyatt will help the 2019 first-round draft pick evolve into a top-tier passer who can win games with both his arm and legs. If Jones fails to make such a leap, the Giants theoretically could move on from him as soon as after the 2024 season.