When Pat Shurmur was hired as the Giants' new head coach last season, he was widely called a "quarterback guru" -- someone who knows how to mold a quarterback to be successful in today's NFL.
For example, it was evident during his time in Minnesota when Case Keenum led the Vikings to an AFC title game. And though many believed he would have his own quarterback to groom in last year's quarterback-heavy draft, Saquon Barkley was the move by GM Dave Gettleman instead.
Fast forward one year and Shurmur finally has his quarterback to groom in Daniel Jones.
The Duke product went sixth overall to the Giants, a move that is still criticized by some to this day. But Shurmur, and the rest of the Giants organization, had full confidence making that pick. And after watching Jones in his first reps in a Giants uniform, Shurmur saw what everyone who wanted to draft him expected.
"I've learned quite a bit. None of it really surprised us in a negative way," he said about Jones. "He's very smart. He's one of the first guys in, one of the last guys to leave. He gets it from that standpoint. Throws the ball well, moves around well, he executes at a high level out there on the practice field so training camp is the next step."
All eyes will be on Jones in training camp, even though he likely won't be taking first-team reps right away. Shurmur noted having a plan to get him with the first team, but didn't give any details into how it will play out.
For Jones, Shurmur just wants to see his progression week to week, as he goes through his first real practices and preseason games.
"Well continue to grow," he said about Jones' expectations this summer. "I think it's important that he learns something new every day. A lot of what he's doing, he's doing for the first time and it's really a process. You go from not even practicing against a defense to against your own defense, and then you put the pads on and then preseason games. As you go through all the steps, [we want to] see him have success."
Jones already has tons of expectations on his back before taking an NFL snap. It's what naturally comes with being the hopeful successor to a two-time Super Bowl champion in Eli Manning.
Heading into his rookie year, all Manning wanted to do was earn the respect of his new teammates, and he believes Jones has done that thus far.
"My rookie year, my goal was to kinda come in and earn the respect of your teammates," Manning said. "I think that was very important. That was my mindset as a high draft pick and a quarterback.
"I think Daniel's done a good job of that, just coming in here. Kinda head down, work hard, do everything you're told to do and try to earn the respect of your teammates."
Shurmur has also given his stamp of approval for what Jones has done up to this point.
"In my mind, he's exceeded expectations," Shurmur said. "He's very smart. We had more information about Daniel Jones than some of the people that have covered him. So we're less surprised about things than maybe some other people are because we knew he could throw the ball, we knew he could move around. We knew he was smart. We knew he was tough. So we knew all those things.
"We really haven't seen anything he can't do in terms of playing quarterback. Now it's a matter of going out and doing it."
Hopefully he can continue checking the boxes when it becomes game time.