2019 NFL Mock Draft: Kinnan’s final first-round projection
By Cory Kinnan
player. 31. . QB. Duke. Daniel Jones. 17
They are really going to do it. The Giants look primed and prepared to use a first-round pick on Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, this writer’s fifth-ranked quarterback in the class and one who was given a fourth-round grade.
After choosing to select Saquon Barkley over Sam Darnold, Josh Allen or Josh Rosen a year ago, the Giants now look to make a massive reach on Thursday night. Who knows? It could all be a smokescreen, but here, Murray, Haskins and Lock are all off of the board.
Jones has only completed 59 percent of his passes throughout his career at Duke, and never hit over 2,900 yards passing in a season. In 2018, Jones managed to throw for just 2,674 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. While head coach Pat Shurmur loves the west coast offense, Jones may be even too conservative for him.
To say the Giants would be wasting a valuable resource by reaching on a quarterback with the 17th pick would be an understatement, but alas. After selecting Gary with their first pick in the 2019 draft, the Giants use the 17th pick, received from the Cleveland Browns in the trade of Odell Beckham Jr., and draft their heir apparent to Eli Manning in Jones.