Daniel Jones is the reigning Senior Bowl MVP and getting serious first-round buzz but is there much more than meets the eye? The Duke Blue Devil received coaching from the same coach that coached Peyton and Eli Manning which has led many to believe Jones will end up as a premier NFL signal-caller and most importantly, a franchise quarterback. It’s not always that easy though and while there are thing that stand out in a good way for Jones, there are plenty of things that also stand out in a bad way for the Duke product.
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 220 pounds
Age: 21
Tape: Daniel Jones vs. UNC (2018)
Strengths: Possesses adequate arm strength and pocket mobility. Great size for the QB position. Athletic to the point of being a problem for defenses as a runner. Throws with touch and allows his receiver to attack soft spots in zone coverages. Solid pocket presence. Above-average deep ball accuracy. Intelligent signal-caller. Displays serious toughness after only missing two games with a broken collarbone.
Weaknesses: Lacks timing and anticipation on most throws, seems to be behind more often than not. Not a great thrower on the run for wanting to escape the pocket as much as he does. Footwork can tend to get sloppy. Drops his eyes when leaving the pocket which makes extending the play and completing a pass just that more difficult. Inconsistent as a thrower. The easy throws seem harder than the harder throws for him. Lacks NFL-level velocity, lack of juice on his throws will limits him as a mid-round prospect.
Draft Grade: Late 3rd-rounder
Best fit: A team that does not expect him to come in and start right away. Jones has great size, he has a really good arm and is very intelligent. He would work best as understudy in an offense that also would use his mobility to his advantage. He’s likely a spot-starter or a late-bloomer in the NFL but with that size, it’s easy to see a team trading up to go get him.
Player comparison: A bigger version of Christian Ponder
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