Welcome back to another glorious edition of “Trash Player of the Week” on Hot Garbage, where we break down those athletes who continue to disappoint, no matter how much their teams (and fans) pray for a miracle. This week’s honor goes to none other than Daniel Jones, quarterback of the New York Giants. You might know him as the guy who trips over his own feet while running wide open downfield. But we know him as the human turnover machine—a quarterback who’s about as reliable as dial-up internet in the year 2024.

The $160 Million Mistake

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Daniel Jones signed a four-year, $160 million contract this offseason. Yes, you read that correctly. The New York Giants took one decent season—one in which Jones managed to not be completely terrible—and decided that meant he was worth franchise quarterback money. If that’s not a giant miscalculation (pun fully intended), then I don’t know what is.

The Giants essentially said, “Hey, you didn’t throw a million interceptions this year, so let’s give you the same kind of cash reserved for actual elite quarterbacks.” Patrick Mahomes? Sure, he’s worth it. Joe Burrow? No-brainer. But Daniel Jones? Let’s just say the Giants are paying five-star money for one-star production.

The real kicker is that Jones has never proven he can consistently win games, let alone lead the Giants to any kind of meaningful success. What’s worse is that he’s being paid like he’s already an All-Pro, when in reality, he’s barely middle of the pack. He’s been nothing more than an average quarterback masquerading as a starter, and now the Giants are on the hook for that blunder. Oops.

Turnover Jones

Ah yes, the turnovers. If there’s one thing that Daniel Jones is elite at, it’s giving the ball to the other team. In fact, he’s so good at it that you’d think it was part of his job description. In his first four NFL seasons, Jones fumbled the ball an astounding 36 times. Thirty-six! And that’s not even counting the 29 interceptions he threw during that span.

In an era when ball security is preached like the gospel, Daniel Jones continues to defy logic by making careless decisions that put his team in impossible situations. Whether it’s a boneheaded interception or a fumble that leaves fans questioning whether he even remembers how to hold a football, Jones has mastered the art of turning the ball over. And let’s be clear: these aren’t just occasional mistakes. These are habitual, game-changing blunders that derail drives, crush momentum, and lose games.

The worst part? Jones has shown zero signs of fixing this problem. You’d think after multiple seasons of fumbling away wins, he’d have figured out how to, I don’t know, hold on to the football. But here we are, watching him treat the pigskin like a live grenade.

That Infamous Trip

Speaking of embarrassments, can we please talk about the infamous “trip” in 2020? You know, the one where Jones took off on a beautiful, wide-open run down the field—only to inexplicably trip over his own feet just short of the end zone? That single play was a perfect microcosm of Daniel Jones’s career: it started off with so much promise, and then, just when you think he might actually succeed, he self-destructs in the most ridiculous fashion possible.

Sure, the Giants ended up scoring on the drive, but that play is burned into the memories of every Giants fan, football fan, and meme creator alike. And let’s be honest, that run could have been Jones’s career-defining moment, the highlight that made people say, “Wow, maybe this guy is the real deal.” Instead, it became another reason to question if he even belongs in the league.

A Supporting Cast of Excuses

Now, there are always those who come to Daniel Jones’s defense with the classic, “He doesn’t have a good supporting cast!” excuse. And sure, the Giants’ offensive line has been shaky, and the wide receiver corps hasn’t exactly been elite. But here’s the thing: good quarterbacks elevate the players around them. Look at guys like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and even Josh Allen—they’ve had their share of mediocre talent surrounding them, yet they still managed to perform at a high level.

Daniel Jones, on the other hand, seems to rely on everyone else being perfect just so he can be mediocre. That’s not what you want from a franchise quarterback. That’s what you expect from a journeyman backup who’s just keeping the seat warm.

And let’s not forget, the Giants did invest in Saquon Barkley, one of the best running backs in the league. You’d think having a weapon like that in the backfield would take some pressure off Jones and open up the passing game. But nope, even with Saquon in the lineup, Jones has managed to underwhelm, proving that even elite help can’t save him from his own inadequacies.

One “Good” Season Does Not a Franchise QB Make

The Giants’ decision to pay Jones $160 million was based largely on his 2022 season, where he posted career highs in completion percentage and rushing yards while cutting down on turnovers. But let’s be real—calling that a “breakout” season is generous. He threw for just 15 touchdowns, hardly the numbers you’d expect from a guy now making top-tier QB money. And while his rushing ability is a nice bonus, the NFL is still a passing league, and Jones has yet to prove that he can consistently win games with his arm.

If anything, 2022 was the exception, not the rule. Jones’s career has been defined by inconsistency and mediocrity. One decent season doesn’t erase years of turnovers, bad decisions, and games where he looked completely lost. Yet, somehow, the Giants convinced themselves that he was the future of their franchise. That decision is already looking like a massive mistake.

The Verdict

So why is Daniel Jones our Trash Player of the Week? Because he embodies everything you don’t want in a quarterback. He’s inconsistent, turnover-prone, and lacks the ability to elevate the players around him. He’s been given every opportunity to prove he’s a franchise QB, and time and time again, he’s come up short. But the Giants, in their infinite wisdom, decided to pay him like he’s the second coming of Eli Manning. Spoiler alert: he’s not.

Jones is the kind of quarterback who teases you with just enough good moments to make you think, “Maybe he’s got it figured out,” only to crush your hopes with a game-losing fumble or a head-scratching interception. He’s the guy who gives you just enough hope to believe, only to trip over his own feet at the finish line—literally and figuratively.

Congratulations, Daniel Jones—you’ve truly earned your spot as Hot Garbage’s Trash Player of the Week. Now, if only you could hold on to that honor as tightly as you should be holding on to the football. But hey, at least you’re getting paid, right?