Giants release Daniel Jones: What it means for N.Y. and what comes next for the QB

By Charlotte Carroll, Dan Duggan and Lauren Smith

The New York Giants have released quarterback Daniel Jones, the team announced Friday.

“Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him,” Giants president John Mara said in a statement. “We mutually agreed that would be best for him and for the team.

“Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that. We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Brian Daboll met with #giants team and informed them of Daniel Jones release before it went public and before today’s practice

“This is not an easy thing” pic.twitter.com/fmM3wcrWo7

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) November 22, 2024

Jones, in his sixth season with the Giants after the team drafted him No. 6 overall in 2019, was benched Monday following the Giants’ 2-8 start to the season, during which he completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions through 10 games.

The 27-year-old quarterback has played in 70 games for New York the past six seasons, throwing for 14,582 yards with 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions and tallying a 64.1 completion percentage.

Jones seemed to foreshadow his release when he spoke with reporters following Thursday’s practice.

“The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true. I’m extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here,” he said. “No one wanted to win more games worse than me. I gave everything I had on the field and in preparation. Of course, this season has been disappointing for all and, of course, I wish I could have done more. I’m 100% accountable for my part. I did not play well enough, consistently enough to help the team get (good) results.”

Jones will go on waivers following his release and is unlikely to be claimed by another team with $13.8 million of guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Giants ahead of the 2023 season.

To answer the most common questions I’m seeing:

• No impact on the Giants’ cap whether they released him now or after the season.

• Jones can sign with another team immediately after he clears waivers (he’ll clear waivers).

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) November 22, 2024

Players who clear waivers become free agents, and Jones could have some intriguing options once he hits the open market. He could try to sign on with a playoff-caliber team in need of a quality backup. He also could try to go to a place where he might have a chance to start again this year (Dallas, Jacksonville?). Or perhaps he’ll seek out a team where he could “audition” to be the team’s quarterback in 2025 (Las Vegas?).

Of course, Jones could also choose to take some time away from football before picking his next destination this offseason.

The Giants, who have lost their past five games, host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12 and will move forward with a new starter at quarterback. Giants coach Brian Daboll announced Monday, after the team’s Week 11 bye, the Giants would make a change and will start Tommy DeVito on Sunday.

“After evaluating and watching a lot of tape, that’s the reason we are going with Tommy,” Daboll said. “Drew Lock will be the backup. This was a necessary move for us, and I’m looking forward to working with Tommy, and he’ll be ready to go against Tampa Bay.”

Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock and Tim Boyle are your Giants QBs after Daniel Jones was released this morning pic.twitter.com/zfOEB3dRXK

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) November 22, 2024

Why the Giants made the move

My read on Daniel Jones’ release: It’s mutually beneficial, but the Giants weren’t going to make the first move.

If Jones was fine showing up every day and going through the motions as QB4, they would have gone along with that. But once he asked out, they (obviously) were going to grant that wish. — Dan Duggan, Giants beat writer

What a new start means for both parties

Both the Giants and Jones will get a much-needed fresh start with the QB’s release. The Giants will close out the season with DeVito and Lock, but the focus now shifts to who will be the next face of the franchise. Right now, the Giants are No. 3 in the NFL Draft, per Tankathon. For now, there are three other two-win teams. The Giants would never openly tank, but in what’s supposed to be a less top-heavy QB draft, higher draft order could be paramount in finding Jones’ successor.

While New York moves on, Jones finally can, too. When asked Thursday about the possibility of being released and playing with another team before season’s end, Jones said he was still focused on the Giants. He said he was “still processing and trying to think through what the best thing is for this team and what the best thing is for me.”

If Daniel Jones is not claimed, a team could sign him after 4 PM on Monday. A more realistic scenario would be signing him on Tuesday or Wednesday.

He could also wait for a QB desperate team to bring him on.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 22, 2024

But now, the reality is Jones could play elsewhere. The question is, will he decide to do that and with which team? Some of the teams floating around social media that present the most intriguing options since they’re on the Giants’ remaining schedule: the Dallas Cowboys (Dak Prescott is out for the year and backup Cooper Rush has been struggling) and the Philadelphia Eagles (final game of the year where starters could potentially sit as the Eagles go on a playoff hunt). There are obviously other potential pairings, but those two present the most Shakespearean twists. — Charlotte Carroll, Giants beat writer

How the move affects New York’s finances

There is no impact for the Giants by releasing Jones now or after the season, since they’ll have plenty of cap space in 2025. The only possible cap impacts would be if the Giants waited until post-June 1 to make a cut, as The Athletic’s Dan Duggan noted.

By doing so, the team would push $11.1 million in dead money to 2026. But the Giants wouldn’t have been able to spend that money until June, meaning they couldn’t have used those extra dollars in free agency when they matters most. Instead, the full $22.2 million in dead money goes into the 2025 cap year. And both parties get a much-needed fresh start with Jones’ decision to request the release. — Carroll

Required reading

(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)