NFL Draft: Giants Mocked For No. 6 Daniel Jones Pick, Experts React

UPDATE (12.10 a.m. EDT) - The New York Giants fans at the MetLife Stadium let out a huge sigh of disappointment as soon as it was announced that their team had selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones as their No. 6 pick overall at the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Original story:

The New York Giants pulled the first shock of the 2019 NFL Draft, which got underway in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday night when they selected quarterback Daniel Jones with their No.6 pick in the first round. The New York franchise was mocked by NFL players and experts after it left better players on the table to go for the Duke University quarterback.

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman was keen to find a signal caller who can take over from Eli Manning, who has entered the final year of his contract with the team. Jones will be expected to line up behind the 38-year-old veteran quarterback for the upcoming campaign and then take over when Manning hangs up his helmet.

But the New York franchise was expected to also look at strengthening their defense during the draft and were expected to make a move for pass-rusher Josh Allen. But the general manager was keen on strengthening their offensive line not missing out on a quarterback during this year’s draft.

However, the shock was not about the Giants signing a quarterback instead of a defensive player, but that they selected Jones despite Dwayne Haskins being available. The Heisman Trophy finalist was expected to be one of the top quarterbacks on offer, but he was selected by the Washington Redskins as the 15th overall pick.

ESPN’s Max Kellerman led the mocking of the Giants for picking Jones ahead of Haskins and he was joined by TV writer Dan Fogelman, SNY TV, and former Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody among others, who could not believe the New York franchise’s decision.

Meanwhile, a number of experts seem to believe that Jones would have been available when the Giants’ second pick at No.17 came around. The New York franchise later selected Dexter Lawrence, a defensive tackle from Clemson, in their second pick of the night.

An NFL source and talent evaluator told the New York Post that Jones has a lot of similarities to Manning, which is possible especially since he was coached by David Cutcliffe, who was the current Giants starting quarterback’s coach at Ole Miss. He even coached older brother Peyton Manning at Tennessee.

“He’s got a lot of the same mannerisms as Eli,’’ the source and talent evaluator told The Post. “After he throws he has the shoulder shrug. Eli will throw it and then kind of shrug his shoulder.’’

However, the evaluator was also of the opinion that Jones was not worthy of a No.6 pick by the Giants, saying: “I don’t believe so, no.”