In The Athletic’s 2023 NFL Quarterback Tiers, published Monday, Jones came in as a Tier 3 quarterback and ranked No. 19 overall among the top 30 quarterbacks — sandwiched between No. 18 Jimmy Garoppolo and No. 20 Geno Smith. Creator of the QB Tiers series, Mike Sando explains a Tier 3 quarterback is “a legitimate starter but needs a heavier running game and/or defensive component to win. A lower-volume dropback passing offense suits him best.”
To compile the list, Sando gathered input from 50 league insiders, including eight general managers, 10 head coaches, 15 coordinators, 10 executives, four quarterbacks coaches and three involved in coaching/analytics. Forty-three voters tabbed Jones a Tier 3 QB, while four put him in Tier 2 and three in Tier 4.
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Only Geno Smith, Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence improved their Quarterback Tiers standing more than Jones from last year. A coaching change would seem to be the key variable.
“I love the way he took care of the ball,” a head coach said. “That was the No. 1 thing he improved. I don’t know if his arm will ever elevate those around him, but when you are a big man that has athleticism and takes care of the ball, you are going to give yourself a chance.”
The Giants are banking on improved weaponry, notably the addition of tight end Darren Waller, to expand a conservative pass offense. The team ranked 30th in air yards per attempt last season. Jones’ athleticism helped the Giants rank third in EPA on scrambles, worth about 2.4 points per game, according to TruMedia.
“He’s a function of the offense,” a defensive coordinator said. “I don’t think from an arm standpoint he does a whole lot that is going to scare you, but his speed does. And I do think Brian Daboll protects his quarterbacks, even Josh Allen, by giving them very predictable throws, successful throws, easy throws to skill players who can go make a play. And then he takes his shots.”
This coordinator thought Jones could become what Ryan Tannehill was at his peak in Tennessee, once the Giants’ offensive talent fills in.
“He played really well last year, and I think with the added weapons, we are going to find out what he can do,” an exec said of Jones. “I don’t know if he can carry the team yet. That is what keeps him a 3 for now.”
Nice move up for our boy in one of the larger annual league polls, if he can open up this passing with Waller and a better line I don’t see why he couldn’t sneak into the back end of tier 2
Other tier 3 QBs
Murray, Carr, Goff, Tua, Jimmy G, Geno, Kyler Murray, Tannehill, Fields, Mac Jones
One coordinator called out DJs ceiling as peak Titans Tannehill, given his contract is in the 11-14 range (predicted) over the next 2 seasons I’d be pretty stoked with that level of play
I think the Tannehill comparison is more than fair. Both have similar profiles (although I do think Jones is more athletic), both dealt with really shitty situations early on in their careers, both were written off at one point, both looked better when put it in a better situation, both have kinda questionable ceilings
See you in 2024, tier 2!