Gil Brandt says Duke's Daniel Jones reminds him of Peyton Manning
Pro football analyst Gil Brandt likes what he sees in former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, so much so that the 86-year-old compared the rising star to one of the greatest NFL QBs of all time.
According to Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com, the former Dallas Cowboys exec gave Jones some lofty accolades ahead of next week’s NFL draft.
“I. Love. Dan Jones,” Brandt said via teleconference for Sirius XM NFL Radio. “I have to say this carefully: When you watch him and you go back (20) years and watch Peyton Manning, you are watching the same guy. He’s athletic. He doesn’t have a rocket for an arm, but neither did Peyton. Very smart.”
In a QB class crowded with the likes of Heisman winner Kyler Murray and former Ohio State gunslinger Dwayne Haskins, Jones’ name could easily be overshadowed amongst his competition. Brandt, however, recognizes pure talent in the 21-year-old, and said more people have changed their opinions about the Charlotte native.
“He had an opportunity to have a full scholarship to Princeton,” Brandt said of Jones. “He said, ‘No, I’m better [at football] than that. I want to walk-on at Duke.’ He completed 60 percent of his passes but they didn’t have any great receivers there to catch the ball.
“He had an unbelievable workout a month or so ago. A lot of people have turned to like him.”
During his final year in Durham, Jones threw for 2,674 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 60.5 percent of his passes and registering a passer rating of 131.7. Jones was also named MVP of the 2019 Senior Bowl.
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