Daniel Jones To Buffalo Just Makes Sense
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A high-caliber backup, who openly said he wishes to join a contender, just hit the open market. Buffalo would be wise to snipe him up before anyone else does.
Daniel Jones has to end up as the Bills backup. Behind Josh Allen is the perfect spot for him
— Hurricane (@Shaelplofsky) November 23, 2024
The Buffalo Bills have fully cemented themselves as one of the AFC’s best teams. Daniel Jones is a quarterback who doesn’t excite many people, but he represents a Josh Allen-esque insurance policy in case an injury takes place.
The current Bills’ backup is Mitch Trubisky, who, in 2024, has more yards lost via kneeling (7) than yards gained via passing (5). Trubisky has some starting experience as well, but he possesses a 8:11 TD to interception ratio since leaving Chicago after the 2020 season, and none of those touchdowns have come as a Buffalo Bill. As if the rest of the Bills’ QB room wasn’t thin enough, the third string quarterback, Shane Buechele, is on injured reserve and out for the year.
In addition to being nearly identical in size to Allen (Jones is 6’5” and 230 pounds, while Allen is 6’5”, 237 pounds), he has adequate arm talent and has an ability to be a game manager in case of an emergency, as demonstrated by his career 70:47 touchdown to interception ratio. He possesses underrated mobility (he has 5.5 yards per rush in his career and 15 rushing touchdowns) that could allow Jones to play Josh Allen-like football if necessary. Not to mention, per everyone in the Giants’ building, he had an unmatched work ethic.
This is not to say that he is anywhere near Josh Allen’s universe in terms of ability; Allen is one of the most unique elite quarterbacks in the league. He’s the ultimate dual threat who is equally as dangerous with his arm as he is with his legs. That said, in the event of an injury, Jones could step in and be a game manager while the Bills would have to do very little to change how they operate. He’s the kind of quarterback that a true contender would love nothing more than to have in their room. Daniel Jones is not nearly the special talent that Josh Allen is, but if Allen were to miss time (which he hasn’t since his rookie season), the former New York Giant can come in and be serviceable for as long as he’s needed.
In a conference where every game and quarter matters in terms of playoff seeding, having a capable insurance policy would solidify Buffalo’s roster heading into the postseason. It’s like getting a handcuff running back for your fantasy football roster – it’s not a transaction to write home about, but in case the guy on top goes down, the backup can come in and perform well enough that the team stays afloat.
Jones has several years of starting experience; even though he’s a frequently clowned-upon quarterback, he has had his fair share moments of being more than serviceable. Much maligned quarterbacks have shown to benefit from fresh starts in good systems (see: Darnold, Sam and Smith, Geno). Jones sitting behind Allen, who himself saw his fair share of struggles in the NFL before blossoming into who he is today, would give him the fresh start that other quarterbacks have deeply benefitted from. It would be especially beneficial behind an offensive line that ranks in the top ten in pass blocking (73.1 PFF grade), which would be a nice change of pace from the Giants’ below average pass protection (63.2 PFF grade).
Allen is at the top of his game, which is actually all the more reason to bring Daniel Jones into the building. The team has built itself around Josh Allen and his skill set, and losing him would undoubtedly bring the Bills’ overall pedigree down at least six notches. Nobody ever wants to see a backup quarterback have to start the season, but if such a situation were to ever come up, Jones, who has extensive and recent experience as a QB1, would help keep the team afloat.
Daniel Jones will likely clear waivers by Monday at 3pm, at which point he will be largely expected to be an unrestricted free agent. If the Bills are suitors for Jones’ services at that point, they will have a lot of competition.
The Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings are two of the likeliest teams to land free-agent quarterback Daniel Jones, per sources. But they are hardly the only ones. Jones wants to sign with a playoff contender, and what happens in Week 12 is expected to influence his decision. pic.twitter.com/QS9npZJO34
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 24, 2024
The Ravens, in particular, are a team who have designed their roster around the mobility of Lamar Jackson. They have been far from gun-shy in making moves to contend; they signed Derrick Henry in the offseason and acquired Diontae Johnson and Tre’Davious White in trades over the last month. Considering their current backup is U-Haul Platinum Rewards Member Josh Johnson, it would be far from surprising if Baltimore continues their shopping spree. Taking that security option away from the Ravens would put the Bills in a much better and safer position.
The quarterback room is thin, and the majority of the weight of the hopes in Buffalo rests solely on Josh Allen. Losing him would undoubtedly diminish the Lombardi hopes that have escaped the Bills for the entirety of their franchise’s history, but bringing in Jones would at least ensure the bottom doesn’t fall out of the offense i he had to miss a short time.
The Bills have the luxury of using their status as legit Super Bowl contenders as leverage if they were to call up Daniel Jones’ agent. If the front office is wise, that would be the first thing they do when they walk into the office tomorrow.
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