If you were sitting in a sports bar in Manhattan or scrolling through Twitter on the night of April 25, 2019, you probably remember exactly where you were when the pick came in. The New York Giants were on the clock with the sixth overall selection. Everyone—and I mean everyone—expected a defensive powerhouse like Josh Allen or maybe the flashy Dwayne Haskins.
Instead, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped to the podium and announced a name that half the room had to Google: Daniel Jones, the quarterback from Duke.
So, to answer the big question: Daniel Jones was drafted in 2019. Specifically, he was the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The 2019 NFL Draft: A Night of Pure Chaos
The 2019 draft was weird from the jump. It was held in Nashville, and the streets were absolutely packed. Kyler Murray went number one to the Cardinals, which we all saw coming. But the Giants holding the number six pick was supposed to be the start of a new era. Eli Manning was clearly at the end of the road. The franchise needed a "heir apparent," but nobody thought it would be "Danny Dimes."
Honestly, the reaction was brutal. Fans at the Giants' draft party at MetLife Stadium were caught on camera looking like they’d just seen a ghost. Some were booing. Others were just staring at the screen in total silence.
Why the hate? Well, Jones wasn't exactly a superstar at Duke. His stats were... fine? He completed about 60% of his passes and had a 52-to-29 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Not exactly Joe Burrow numbers. But Dave Gettleman, the Giants' GM at the time, was "in full-blown love" after seeing Jones play for just three series at the Senior Bowl.
Why the Giants Took Him So Early
Gettleman’s logic was basically that if you think a guy is a franchise QB, you don't wait. He was terrified that if he waited until the Giants' second first-round pick (at 17), someone else would snag him. Was that true? Most scouts at the time said Jones probably would have been there at 17, or even in the second round. But the Giants weren't taking any chances.
They liked his connection to David Cutcliffe, the Duke coach who had also mentored both Peyton and Eli Manning. He had that "Manning-esque" demeanor—quiet, hardworking, and wouldn't be rattled by the New York media.
Breaking Down the 2019 Quarterback Class
Looking back, the 2019 QB class was a total mixed bag. You had guys who were supposed to be the next big thing and others who vanished almost instantly.
- Kyler Murray (1st overall): Still a starter, still electric when healthy.
- Daniel Jones (6th overall): The polarizing centerpiece of the Giants (until his eventual move to the Colts in 2025).
- Dwayne Haskins (15th overall): Sadly passed away in 2022, but struggled to find his footing in Washington before that.
- Drew Lock (42nd overall): Became a high-end backup/journey-man starter.
It’s wild to think that out of all those guys, Jones actually lasted the longest with his original team, despite all the turnover in coaching. He survived Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and finally found some success under Brian Daboll before the wheels fell off.
That Insane Rookie Season
People forget how good Jones actually looked in 2019 once he took over for Eli. In his first start against Tampa Bay, he ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more in a massive comeback win. He finished that year with 24 passing touchdowns, which is actually a franchise record for a rookie.
The problem? The fumbles. Man, the fumbles were a nightmare. He had 18 fumbles that year. You can’t win games when the ball is constantly hitting the turf.
Where is Daniel Jones Now?
Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape is totally different. After a roller-coaster career in New York that included a massive $160 million contract and a subsequent release, Jones has reinvented himself.
As of the 2025 season, Jones actually found a second life with the Indianapolis Colts. It’s one of those classic "change of scenery" stories. After a stint with the Vikings where he was mostly a backup, he signed a one-year deal with Indy and actually put up some of the best numbers of his career. He completed 68% of his passes for over 3,100 yards before a late-season Achilles injury sidelined him.
It’s kinda poetic, actually. He’s 28 now, heading into free agency again in 2026, and looking to prove he’s still a starter.
Lessons from the 2019 Draft
If you're a draft nerd, the Daniel Jones story is a case study in "reaching." The Giants got a guy who started over 80 games for them, won a playoff game in Minnesota (that 2022 season was magic), and showed flashes of being a top-tier athlete.
But did they leave talent on the board? Absolutely. Josh Allen (the pass rusher) went seventh, right after Jones. He’s been a perennial Pro Bowler. Drafting a QB is always a gamble, and while Jones wasn't a total "bust" like some people claim, the opportunity cost was massive.
The Verdict on the 2019 Pick
The year Daniel Jones got drafted will always be remembered as the moment the Giants officially moved on from the Eli Manning era. It was a pick born out of a desire for stability and a specific "type" of leader.
Whether you think he was a success or a failure usually depends on which stat you look at. If you like the 2022 playoff run, he’s a hero. If you look at the 2023 season where everything collapsed, he’s the reason the rebuild took so long.
Next Steps for Fans and Collectors:
If you're looking to dig deeper into this era of Giants football, your best bet is to check out the 2019 NFL Draft scouting reports from The Ringer or Pro Football Focus. Comparing what they said then to what happened over the next seven years is a trip. Also, if you’re a card collector, his 2019 Prizm rookie cards are still surprisingly active on the market, especially after his recent resurgence in Indianapolis. Keep an eye on the Colts' 2026 training camp reports to see if his recovery stays on track.