Giants QB Daniel Jones: 'I haven’t played well enough'

New York Giants quarterback and 2019 first-round draft pick Daniel Jones has flashed promise throughout his young NFL career but also hasn't yet cemented himself as the franchise's answer at the sport's most important position ahead of the club making a call on the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract this spring. 

On the same day that new Giants general manager Joe Schoen publicly backed Jones last month, team co-owner John Mara remarked that "we've done everything possible to screw this kid up." New head coach Brian Daboll suggested later in January he's committed to getting the best out of Jones when the 24-year-old is cleared for contact coming off the neck injury that prematurely ended his 2021 season. 

As Josh Alper explained for Pro Football Talk, Jones recently spoke with ESPN's Jordan Raanan on the "Breaking Big Blue" podcast and accepted blame for his much-publicized struggles. 

"I’m certainly the one responsible for how I play and I take that very seriously. I haven’t played well enough," Jones said. "We haven’t won enough games to this point. That’s what I am focused on. And making sure I’m improving as a player as we go through this offseason and into next season, so I am able to put this team in a position to win games. I think that’s my focus — to improve every day. Right now, we’re in an offseason stage where you’re kind of on your own to do that and to go about that. So that’s what I am focused on." 

Per ESPN stats, Jones finished the 2021 campaign 26th among eligible quarterbacks with an 84.8 passer rating and 22nd with a 41.5 total QBR across 11 games. He threw for 2,428 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and he added 298 yards and two scores on 62 carries.