All the hype regarding Daniel Jones’s comeback from a torn ACL last season quickly evaporated after his awful showing against the Houston Texans. Making his awaited return to the field after an ACL to his right knee back in November, the Giants QB had a night to forget. Playing in the first quarter at NRG Stadium, Jones threw two interceptions while his first one almost came on the opening pass itself.

Eventually, the Giants lost 28-10, leaving Brian Daboll visibly fuming after the game. Speaking to the reporters, Daboll stated, “Tough to win a game when you turn the ball over five times. Start with that. So, one decision back in our endzone, give up a score, one-on-one, Stingley makes a good play.” Well, Stingley Jr. caused all sorts of trouble during the first quarter when he stalled a seven-play drive led by Jones that was intended for Jalin Hyatt. But Stingley had the Giants’ WR well-covered, thereby pulling off a diving interception.

However, this was not the only mistake that Jones made that night. As pointed out by ex-Giants star Leger Douzable in his NFL preseason analysis, the defensive end stated, “Daniel Jones, this is your sixth year in the NFL, you understand when that fly route is covered get out to the outside and just throw it at the TE Feet don’t compound a mistake by throwing an ill-advised throw even saw him throw his hands up around his head because he knows he shouldn’t have did that.”

The former Giants player has brutally pointed out Jones’s mistake. Well, looking at his analysis, he might not be wrong, as Jones’s ill-advised throw proved to be costly. During his second drive of the night, Jones was pressurized by the Texans DE Derek Barnett for a dropback into the endzone. With Barnett floating around, Jones decided to woof the ball to TE Theo Johnson.

But to make his night more miserable, Houston’s safety Jalen Pitre caught the ball and made an easy interception while running to the endzone for a TD. Even the Giants’ HC was disappointed with that play, “Made a poor decision backed up.” Nonetheless, Jones ended up finishing his match with 11-of-18 passing for 138 yards with zero TDs but two interceptions. Jones himself wasn’t happy with the first quarter, stating, “Obviously, the first quarter didn’t go how we wanted it. Bad decision and a bad throw.” 

Seeing how Jones is performing, we can’t help but wonder if it is because of the $160 million contract he signed last year. Or is the pressure to deliver under bigger expectations taking a toll on him?

Is Daniel Jones’s contract a reason for his lackluster performances?

After signing his lucrative deal last season, Jones went on to record two touchdown passes and six interceptions in just six games while dealing with neck and ACL injuries. Speaking about the Giants QB contract, co-owner John Mara stated, “Listen, I’m still happy we gave him that contract because I felt he played really well for us in 22.” Well, Mara might not be wrong, as Jones, who passed for 3,205 yards while having 15 passing TDs, helped the Giants secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2016.

However, it all went downhill ever since, as Jones’s interception rate blew up from 1.1% to 4.6 % the next season. He even finished last season with only two touchdowns, six interceptions, and 909 passing yards to his name. With no guaranteed money in his contract, the Giants could pull the plug anytime after this season. If he continues to underperform while the team doesn’t produce wins, his Giants’ future could be in trouble.

With a cap that could hit over $100 million in the next two seasons, the Giants would have a decision to make. As the regular season draws near, Jones would have to improve his performance. Or, else, it would be too late for him in a do-or-die season playing for the Giants.