New York Giants Make Big Decision With Daniel Jones

The New York Giants have officially benched quarterback Daniel Jones, signaling the likely end of his tenure as the team’s starter. 

This move comes amid a disastrous 2-8 start to the season, with Jones struggling to lead the league’s lowest-scoring offense at just 15.6 points per game. 

In 10 games, he has posted a 79.4 passer rating—ranking 31st in the NFL—while throwing only eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. 

Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen described the decision as a “football decision,” but financial considerations played a key role. 

By sidelining Jones, the Giants avoid triggering a $23 million injury guarantee for 2025, ensuring they can move on from him in the offseason with a manageable $22.2 million dead cap hit.

Sources: The #Giants are benching QB Daniel Jones, officially moving on from their starter.

Out of the bye week, with the team 2-8, Jones now heads to the bench in what the team has said would be a football decision. pic.twitter.com/NaiVruk6sq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 18, 2024

Tommy DeVito, a fan favorite who went 3-3 as a rookie starter last season, will take over at quarterback, bypassing veteran backup Drew Lock. 

DeVito’s promotion is a choice to evaluate future options while protecting the team’s long-term flexibility. Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million extension in 2023 after leading the Giants to the playoffs, has failed to replicate that success, going 3-13 as a starter since his extension. 

His low point came in an overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, where two costly interceptions and missed opportunities highlighted his continued struggles. 

“We’re so far beyond the injury guarantee driving the decision,” noted The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “This is about evaluating where we’re going as a team,” Daboll added.

Sources: The New York Giants are expected to replace Daniel Jones with Tommy DeVito as their new starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/pVLVWVNDBY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 18, 2024

The benching marks a dramatic fall from grace for Jones, the sixth overall pick in 2019, who once showed promise as the franchise quarterback. 

Over five seasons, he has compiled a 24-44-1 record with 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. While his 2022 playoff heroics earned him the lucrative extension, injuries and regression have since rendered him expendable. 

With the Giants poised to target a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, names like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward have already emerged as potential replacements. 

As the team pivots to DeVito, the focus shifts to rebuilding and closing a turbulent chapter in Giants history.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images