'He didn't look comfortable': Analyst, coach discuss regression of Giants QB Daniel Jones

Former NFL stars and current analysts Boomer Esiason and Tiki Barber said earlier this week that New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones looked "nervous" and like a rookie in the season-opening 28-6 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday. 

NFL Media's Brian Baldinger touched upon Jones' ongoing regression during a chat with Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

"He didn’t look like an advanced quarterback that’s been in the league and can play with some awareness and anticipation," Baldinger said about Jones' play against Minnesota. "Even when he knew where to go with the ball, he wasn’t putting it in the right place. This is the third year in the offense (run by head coach Brian Daboll). There shouldn’t be a whole lot of thinking. He should know exactly what he’s looking at here and where to go with the ball and where the safety valves are. All that stuff should be second nature to him. He should be very comfortable, and he didn’t look comfortable in this offense." 

Jones completed 22-of-42 passes for 186 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a score, in the debacle at MetLife Stadium. Vikings pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard revealed on Tuesday that he and some teammates "kind of started to feel a little bit bad for" Jones as the 27-year-old played poorly and heard boos from upset home fans. 

"Daniel Jones, the one thing he doesn’t do, he does not throw the ball with any anticipation," Baldinger continued. "And so he’s too late, and that’s why he’s running. The ball has to be out. Not every pass, but passes to the sideline, the guy’s making a break, the ball’s got to come out. And he’s got to be accurate with it and he wasn’t accurate with it and he didn’t throw with anticipation. That’s on him." 

Jones made just six starts last season, as he missed time because of a neck-related issue before he went down with a torn ACL on Nov. 5. One unnamed "NFL defensive assistant" told Schwartz that Jones' concerning injury history has left the 2019 first-round draft pick lacking trust in New York's offensive line and "in the people around him." 

"When a quarterback gets beat up," that assistant explained, "he starts to rush his throws. He starts to look at the rush instead of looking down the field. The first thing you do is lock in on your first read. The one thing that really changes is your decision-making. It’s not something that just happened now. It started a few years ago." 

The "Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants" program, which aired this summer, confirmed that Giants general manager Joe Schoen explored acquiring Jones' eventual replacement during the 2024 NFL Draft. Baldinger suggested that Jones may not have the right personality to overcome such a situation. 

"It’s one thing if the fans aren’t behind you," Baldinger added. "If that happens, you’ve got to fight that. But can you fight an organization that was desperately trying to replace you, and you know that?" 

Jones will start New York's Week 2 game at the 0-1 Washington Commanders this  Sunday. It remains to be seen if Daboll could turn to either primary backup Drew Lock or QB3 Tommy DeVito if Jones fails to guide his offense on a touchdown drive during the first half of the encounter at Washington's Northwest Stadium.