For years, once NFL first round quarterbacks flamed out, they never got another chance. In recent years, we've seen more teams giving first round busts a second chance, and Daniel Jones is the latest.
Daniel Jones was drafted with the sixth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants to fix the Franchises hole at quarterback. He had a promising rookie year with 3,027 yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns.
Jones' career then took a turn for the worse in New York after that promising rookie year. In the next six seasons he never surpassed his 25 total touchdowns again, and only passed for more than 3,000 yards on one other occasion.
Although his career did not begin impressively, The Giants signed Jones to a four-year $160 million contract extension in March of 2023. Two seasons and only 16 games later, Jones was released by the G-Men in November, 2024.
He looked to be joining a long list of NFL first round quarterback busts like Josh Rosen, Zach Wilson, Johnny Manziel, Tim Tebow, Baker Mayfield, and Sam Darnold.
On the bright side, Mayfield and Darnold have recently turned their careers around on new teams, and Jones has done just that in 2025.
Baker Mayfield's Career Turnaround
Baker Mayfield was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, and after two promising seasons, Browns fans though that found their man.
Baker then struggled with injuries with the Browns and they traded him to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional fifth round pick. The 2017 Heisman winner struggled to get time in Carolina, and he even ended up playing scout team defense just to stay on the field.
The Panthers then traded Mayfield to the LA Rams and he played five games as a backup.
Tampa Bay then took a chance on the still young QB after the retirement of Tom Brady. In his first season with the Buccaneers he broke out and had a career year. He threw for 4,044 yards and 28 Touchdowns which were both career highs. He was also named a finalist for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year.
Baker then broke those career highs again last season with 4,500 yards and 41 TDs.
So far in 2025, Mayfield is the fourth favorite to win the MVP (+800).
Sam Darnold's Career Turnaround
Sam Darnold was selected by the New York Jets just two spots behind Mayfield in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In three seasons in New York, the former USC QB threw 39 interceptions in just 38 games. Darnold was an immediate bust with the Jets, and was then traded - Like Mayfield - to the Carolina Panthers.
Darnold played 18 games across two seasons with Carolina, and continued to throw too many interceptions. Darnold then bounced to San Francisco in 2023 where he played as a backup before signing a one year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Like the Bucs for Mayfield, the Vikings were exactly what Darnold needed.
In his one and only season in Minnesota, Darnold shattered his career highs with 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns. He also only threw 12 interceptions and was named as a finalist for the 2024 Comeback player of the Year award.
This year, the Vikings decided to go with their 2024 first round pick J.J. McCarthy at QB, and let Darnold leave in free agency. He is now off to another productive start with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Daniel Jones in 2025
Daniel Jones is on track to become the third QB in as many years to completely rejuvenate his career on a new team.
The former bust signed a one-year $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, and had to compete for the starting job with the Colts' 2023 first round pick Anthony Richardson. Jones won the job and entered the season the starter - after seven games, has taken Indy to the top of the AFC South with a 6-1 record.
He has already passed for 1,790 yards, 10 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. The 28-year-old has rushed for four more touchdowns, which is already the second most he's had in a single season.
Jones currently has the seventh best odds to win the league MVP (+2200), and fourth best odds to win Comeback Player of the Year (+550).
Maybe next season we will see the revival of another first round bust, like Justin Fields, Trey Lance, or Kenny Pickett.
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Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
