When Daniel Jones said his goodbyes to the New York Giants and their fans on Thursday, it carried the weight of a player who understood he would never wear the blue and white again. On Friday, that sentiment became reality as Jones officially asked for and was granted his release by the Giants, marking the end of a turbulent tenure for the former first-round pick.
Jones now hits the open market as a free agent, and while his overall NFL record might not make him the hottest commodity on paper, there’s more to this situation than meets the eye. With a career record of 24-44-1 as a starting quarterback, just 70 passing touchdowns against 47 interceptions, and a career-high QBR of only 62.9 in 2022, the numbers don’t exactly scream franchise savior.
Despite a promising campaign in 2022 that led the Giants to offer him a four-year, $160 million contract, the organization now finds itself cutting ties just a year later—clearly regretting that hefty investment.
While many teams may initially pass on Jones, believing his days as a starting quarterback are behind him, there’s a significant incentive for some NFL front offices to give him another chance. One major reason to sign Jones is tied to the league’s compensatory draft pick system. With the Giants releasing him midway through the season, any team that picks up Jones for the remainder of the year could benefit from a compensatory pick if Jones departs again in the offseason.
The situation works like this: If an NFL team signs Daniel Jones to a short-term deal through the rest of the current season, Jones would then become a free agent at the season’s end.
If Jones subsequently signs with another team in free agency, the original team that signed him after his Giants release could be eligible for a compensatory pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, depending on the value of his next contract.
The compensatory pick formula is influenced by the size of the contract a player signs, among other factors. If Jones were to secure a reasonably lucrative deal elsewhere, the team that signs him now could see a solid compensatory pick come their way in the draft.
While there’s a limit to the upside—Jones isn’t expected to command a massive contract—there is a value to be found here. For teams looking for quarterback depth, this could be a low-risk, high-reward opportunity.
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While Jones’ days as a potential franchise quarterback appear numbered, it’s important to remember how unpredictable NFL careers can be.
Players like Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, and Baker Mayfield all found themselves in similar positions, written off as busts only to eventually resurrect their careers in new environments. Smith, for example, had been labeled a backup at best before finding a second wind with the Seattle Seahawks, where he led the team to the playoffs.
Mayfield, meanwhile, bounced around several teams before finding some success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s a precedent in the league for quarterbacks turning their careers around once they find themselves in the right situation.
At only 26 years old, Jones still has time to rewrite his NFL story. He may not be a top-tier quarterback at this stage, but his experience as a starter could make him a valuable backup.
There aren’t many backups in the league with the same amount of starting experience and playoff exposure as Jones. In a league that always craves quarterback depth—especially for teams hoping to make a deep postseason run—Jones could prove to be a more attractive option than some may think.
For the Giants, releasing Jones is yet another acknowledgment of a failed experiment. Drafted sixth overall in 2019, Jones was heralded as the next franchise quarterback for the Giants, following in the footsteps of Eli Manning. Despite some flashes of potential, his career has been defined by inconsistency, injuries, and an inability to elevate the Giants to consistent contenders.
The 2022 season was a glimmer of hope, as Jones managed to lead New York to the playoffs and a Wild Card win, but even that success ultimately felt short-lived as the team regressed in 2023.
By releasing Jones, the Giants are also sending a message that they are ready to start fresh. It is a risky move, considering they are now without a clear answer at the quarterback position.
The potential embarrassment for the Giants comes if Jones, like some of his contemporaries, manages to revive his career elsewhere. If Jones can find stability and success in another uniform, it could be a case of the Giants giving up too soon—adding to the list of personnel decisions that have haunted the franchise over the past decade.
For now, though, Daniel Jones finds himself in a strange but potentially advantageous position. He may not be the hottest name in free agency, but he brings a level of experience that’s hard to find in the middle of the season. For a team looking to bolster its quarterback room or planning for the possibility of a playoff run, Jones represents a sensible option.
And beyond that, there’s the added bonus of possibly securing a compensatory draft pick in 2026 if he moves on again. The allure of that draft capital—essentially getting a return on a low-risk deal—could be the deciding factor for a team willing to take a chance on him.
Jones’ future in the NFL is uncertain, but his story isn’t over just yet. He has a chance to learn, grow, and maybe even prove his critics wrong.
And if he does, he might just find himself in the ranks of quarterbacks who defied the odds and made the most of their second—or third—chance.
As for the Giants, only time will tell if releasing Jones was the right decision or if they’ll be left regretting letting go of a player who just needed a change of scenery to unlock his true potential.
