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Folks, I can’t believe that I’m actually writing this right now but I’m actually starting to feel hopeful about the Giants future again. It’s been a long road for Giants fans since winning Super Bowl XLVI but this team finally looks to be heading in the right direction.
Now I want to clarify what I mean by “the team is heading in the right direction.” The team is not a legitimate Super Bowl contender heading into next season but they should be a playoff contending team heading into next year. Anything less than a ten win season would be a disappointment as this team enters the fourth year of the rebuild.
Defensively, the team’s only real weakness is edge rusher. With that being said, their secondary should be one of the best ones in the league next season with all of the weapons they have back there and that could help mask the lack of a pass rush. They also could end up addressing edge rusher in the draft this year.
Offensively, I see only two weaknesses, the first of which is the offensive line. The lack of experience on the offensive line is concerning and the unit got weaker with the release of Kevin Zeitler. While Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge may feel comfortable starting Matt Peart and Shane Lemieux next season, I am not quite sold on either one yet.
So that leaves the last weakness on offense and it’s a massive one: Quarterback Daniel Jones.
Through two seasons, Jones has simply not lived up to the hype of being a franchise quarterback worthy of being the sixth overall pick. With that being said, he’s entering a crucial season of his career.
There are no more excuses.
The Giants added a solid number 1 receiver in Kenny Golladay and a very good second tight end in Kyle Rudolph as weapons. It’s now his second year in the same system. Saquon Barkley will be returning which will give the Giants another offensive weapon. Dave Gettleman clearly believes that the offensive line is ready to compete. The excuses for Jones have to stop now.
The reality of the Giants situation is this: The 2021 New York Giants will go as far as Daniel Jones takes them. He is now the x-factor on this team. This team will be a playoff team because of him or they will miss the playoffs because of him.
This team has more than enough talent on it to be a playoff team if it has competent quarterback play. It’s officially put up or shut up time for Daniel Jones.