Daniel Jones has officially lost his starting job with the New York Giants, and it appears that his future with the team is in serious jeopardy. Not only has he been demoted from the starting position, but the former first-round pick may not even be the next man up if injuries occur, suggesting his time on the field for the Giants may be over.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll confirmed on Monday that rookie Tommy DeVito will be taking over as the starting quarterback when the team faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. Daboll also revealed that Jones has been relegated to third string, as Drew Lock will be the backup behind DeVito. The decision marks a significant shift in the Giants’ quarterback depth chart, signaling a major step away from Jones, who was once viewed as the franchise’s future under center.
“We’re making a quarterback switch here from Daniel, and we’re gonna go with Tommy,” Daboll announced. “Drew will be the backup. We’ll continue to work with him. He’s been nothing but a pro, as was Daniel. It’s never an easy conversation to have with the players, but we felt like this was a necessary move for us.”
The demotion of Jones to third string raises serious questions about his future with the Giants. Given the current depth chart, it seems likely that the 26-year-old has played his last snap for New York. The decision to not even keep Jones as the primary backup suggests that the team is ready to move in a completely different direction, effectively closing the door on his tenure as the starter.
Financial considerations also play a significant role in the decision. The Giants still owe Jones the remainder of his $35.5 million guaranteed salary for the 2024 season.
While the team cannot avoid paying out that money, they do have a financial incentive to keep him off the field for the rest of the year. Should Jones suffer an injury that affects his ability to play next season, the Giants could be on the hook for additional guaranteed money in 2025.
Keeping Jones on the bench minimizes the risk of such an outcome and allows the organization to explore other options without further financial commitments.
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Jones’ on-field performance this season has been far from stellar. He has completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. While those numbers aren’t catastrophic, they certainly don’t justify the hefty investment the Giants made in him when they picked up his fifth-year option. The inconsistency in his play, combined with a lack of progress in key areas, ultimately led to the coaching staff making a change.
If Jones has indeed made his last start for the Giants, his time with the team will end with a record of 22-36-1. The Giants selected Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, hoping that he could be the long-term successor to Eli Manning. There were moments when Jones showed flashes of potential—his athleticism and ability to extend plays were notable strengths—but the turnovers and inability to consistently lead the team to victory ultimately overshadowed those glimpses of promise.
The move to start Tommy DeVito marks a new chapter for the Giants. DeVito, an undrafted rookie, has shown some promise in limited action, and the team is clearly interested in seeing what he can bring to the table. As for Drew Lock, his elevation to the backup role indicates that the coaching staff has more confidence in his ability to step in if needed than they do in Jones at this point.
The decision to bench Jones is a significant one for the Giants, not just because of the money involved but also because of what it means for the direction of the franchise.
By moving away from Jones, the Giants are acknowledging that their initial investment did not pan out as hoped, and they are now looking to the future with a different plan in place. It remains to be seen whether DeVito or Lock can provide a long-term solution, but for now, they are the ones tasked with leading the team.
For Jones, the future is uncertain. He will likely need to find a new opportunity elsewhere if he hopes to resurrect his career as an NFL starting quarterback. There will undoubtedly be teams interested in giving Jones a chance, whether as a backup or as a potential reclamation project. But for now, his time with the Giants appears to be coming to an end, and the team is moving forward without him.
The Giants’ focus is now on the rest of the season and evaluating the young talent they have on the roster. As they prepare to take on the Buccaneers, the team will be looking to build momentum and find some positives in what has been a challenging season.
Whether Tommy DeVito can seize the opportunity and prove himself as a capable starter remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Giants are ready to turn the page on Daniel Jones and explore what the future holds without him.
