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Factoid

Daniel Jones

Rookie QB shined in the preseason

I’m not arguing that you should make a waiver claim on Daniel Jones, but I think the Giants offense might actually be better with him at quarterback. There are some things he does better than Eli Manning.

He’s got a stronger arm for sure. He also has a lot more mobility. These are both traits that might help open up the offense some.

I also like his accuracy, especially around the end zone. If you watch his highlights at Duke, you’ll see him showing an ability to drop the ball in on tight throws around the end zone, and he made a couple of really nice touchdown passes in the preseason.

Jones’ preseason production (outside of 3 fumbles) was about as good as you’ll see from a quarterback.

Admittedly, these are just practice games (and teams take them even less seriously now than they did in the past) but Jones in August went 29 of 34 for 416 yards, with 2 TDs and no interceptions. He completed 85 percent of his passes and finished with a passer rating of 137.3.

Since 2008, 33 other quarterbacks have been selected with first-round picks. None put up numbers anywhere near that good in the preseason. (On the downside, the next four highest passer ratings were compiled by quarterbacks who haven’t had much success in the real games.)

FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS IN THE PRESEASON
YearPlayerAttComYdsPctTDIntRating
2019Daniel Jones, NYG342941685%20137.3
2013EJ Manuel, Buff.332619979%20112.0
2014Teddy Bridgewater, Min.493028361%50111.2
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJ372434765%31111.0
2014Blake Bortles, Jac.513252163%20110.0
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.543439063%40109.3
2017Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.533636468%30106.2
2012Robert Griffin III, Was.312019365%20103.3
2015Marcus Mariota, Ten.302132670%11102.9
2010Sam Bradford, St.L.553333860%3095.9
2012Andrew Luck, Ind.664152262%3289.3
2011Jake Locker, Ten.493231665%2188.5
2018Baker Mayfield, Cle.613550157%2188.2
2016Paxton Lynch, Den.684045859%4286.5
2018Sam Darnold, NYJ452924464%2183.9
2018Josh Allen, Buff.442421055%2082.6
2018Josh Rosen, Ariz.291614855%1080.8
2011Christian Ponder, Min.492729055%1079.5
2019Kyler Murray, Ariz.362319364%0077.7
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.683440850%3177.3
2014Johnny Manziel, Cle.593029651%2076.7
2008Matt Ryan, Atl.593429458%2175.1
2019Dwayne Haskins, Was.583240955%2274.6
2008Joe Flacco, Balt.673528452%1068.3
2017Deshaun Watson, Hou.562939752%0167.3
2012Ryan Tannehill, Mia.784141453%1166.9
2011Cam Newton, Car.572430042%1064.9
2011Blaine Gabbert, Jac.703536550%1164.3
2012Brandon Weeden, Cle.492429749%0159.7
2016Jared Goff, LAR492223245%2255.8
2009Matthew Stafford, Det.553038955%1452.8
2015Jameis Winston, T.B.472331149%0252.7
2016Carson Wentz, Phil.24128950%0141.8
2009Josh Freeman, T.B.492223845%1341.0

It is tough, of course, for a rookie quarterback to put up notable numbers in his first season. Almost impossible. Since 2008, only three rookie quarterbacks (among those chosen in the first round) have put up top-10 numbers in their first season. That’s per-start numbers. Those three are all players who were helped along by excellent rushing production: Cam Newton, Robert Griffin and Andrew Luck.

FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS, PER-START STATS
YearPlayerStPassRunTTDPtsRnk
2008Matt Ryan, Atl.1621571.0615.921
2008Joe Flacco, Balt.16186111.0014.826
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJ1516371.0013.528
2009Matthew Stafford, Det.10227111.5019.014
2009Josh Freeman, T.B.9204171.1116.823
2010Sam Bradford, St.L.1622041.1916.224
2011Jake Locker, Ten.000.00.0--
2011Christian Ponder, Min.10175211.3016.124
2011Cam Newton, Car.16253442.1927.84
2011Blaine Gabbert, Jac.141547.8611.833
2012Robert Griffin III, Was.15213541.8024.25
2012Andrew Luck, Ind.16273161.7522.910
2012Ryan Tannehill, Mia.1620613.8815.628
2012Brandon Weeden, Cle.152267.9315.827
2013EJ Manuel, Buff.10197191.3017.725
2014Teddy Bridgewater, Min.12231151.2518.621
2014Blake Bortles, Jac.1320730.6916.227
2014Johnny Manziel, Cle.2568.003.6--
2015Marcus Mariota, Ten.12235211.8322.216
2015Jameis Winston, T.B.16253131.7521.817
2016Paxton Lynch, Den.216415.5011.6--
2016Jared Goff, LAR71562.8611.7--
2016Carson Wentz, Phil.1623691.1317.827
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.128410.0015.2--
2017Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.1218321.7514.729
2017Deshaun Watson, Hou.6266423.3332.2--
2018Baker Mayfield, Cle.13271102.0823.011
2018Sam Darnold, NYJ13220111.3817.827
2018Josh Allen, Buff.11182551.6422.813
2018Josh Rosen, Ariz.1317210.8513.132
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.7161791.2922.3--
2019Daniel Jones, NYG??????
2019Kyler Murray, Ariz.232991.0022.3--
2019Dwayne Haskins, Was.??????

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index