If there’s a silver lining in the New York Giants’ 4-12 finish to the 2019 NFL season, it has to be in the play of their rookies. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence showed flashes and a lot of promise, but perhaps it was more pronounced in the connection and synergy of quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Darius Slayton.
Jones, the sixth overall pick in the draft, was named the starter in Week 3, pushing veteran Eli Manning into retirement. Jones had an up-and-down season, tossing 24 touchdowns but also turning the football over at an alarming rate.
Slayton was an absolute steal in the fifth round. He led all Giant receivers in receiving yards and touchdown catches.
That has led some to believe there’s something for the new coaching staff to build on. NFL reporter Peter Schrager sees the two building on their strong rookie seasons.
“Last year was a lost season for the New York Giants,” Schrager said recently on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, where he is a co-host.
“Daniel Jones had more touchdown passes than Kyler Murray. Daniel Jones had more touchdown passes than Gardner Minshew. Daniel Jones had more touchdown passes than any other rookie quarterback in the league. And guess what, Darius Slayton had more touchdowns than any other rookie in the league receiving.
“I think Daniel Jones and Darius Slayton quietly in a lost season for the Giants gave a lot of promise. I’m going to say both these guys make the leap in 2020.”
Schrager is right. Those points about Jones and Slayton got buried under the all the negatives that the media was piling on the Giants, such as the firing of head coach Pat Shurmur and the retirement of Manning.
This year, with a new head coach in Joe Judge and a new approach, Jones and Slayton will operate in sunlight and the spin will hopefully be positive.
