Giants who honor Daniel Jones’ request will cut QB

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The New York Giants are granting quarterback Daniel Jones’ request for release, the team announced Friday.

Jones met with Giants president and owner John Mara on Friday morning and had several conversations with coach Brian Daboll. The two sides agreed it would be “best for him and the team” to move on, Mara said in a statement.

Jones wanted to play, and this gives him a chance to join another team before the end of the season.

“Daniel was a great representative of our organization, first class in every way,” Mara said. “His handling of this situation yesterday is an example of that. We are all disappointed with how things have turned out.”

The move ends Jones’ six-year career with the Giants, primarily as a franchise quarterback. He was the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Duke. He finished with a record of 22-44-1 with 70 touchdown passes and 47 interceptions.

The Giants (2-8) benched Jones in favor of Tommy DeVito on Monday. Jones said Thursday in his first comments since coming off the bench that he wanted to remain the starter, but the team told him they wanted to make a change based on his record at this point in the season, regardless of whether he was ready to join its balance sheet to address an injury guarantee of $23 million.

DeVito will make his first start of the season on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. DeVito was an undrafted rookie last year and won three games as a starter in 2023, but this season he was the third player behind Jones and Drew Lock.

Jones will be claimed off waivers, although it is unlikely that a team will pick up the remainder of the four-year, $160 million contract he signed in March 2023. It would cost an eligible team nearly $12 million for the remainder of the season.

But Jones will likely be signed after he clears waivers. He said in his actual farewell press conference on Thursday that he was “excited about the next opportunity.”

“There were some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of them,” Jones said in a statement. “I take full responsibility for not getting more wins. Nobody wanted to win more games worse than me and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation. Of course this season was disappointing for everyone and of course.” I wish I could have taken 100% responsibility for not playing consistently enough to help the team get results.

“The reality in the NFL is that it’s hard to win games. It requires constant performance from everyone involved. We didn’t do it well enough, so the idea comes to change something and I understand that. I love the game, I love being part of it. “I’m excited for the next opportunity and I know I’ll have a lot of good ones I have football in front of me.

The Giants would have had to pay $23 million if Jones suffered a serious injury and failed a physical exam early next year. It was a risk they didn’t want to take. Because of that, Jones did very little in practice this week, aside from serving as a safety for the scout team during a passing period on Thursday.

“Well, I have the guarantee of injury. So that’s it,” Jones said. “I understand it. You don’t want to take any risks. At this point it’s just, do what you’re told.”

The Giants’ locker room seemed to know that Jones’ departure was imminent.

“It was inevitable,” outside linebacker Brian Burns said. “Might as well get it over with.”

New York will make more than $22.2 million in dead money next season as a result of the move.

It took four days before Jones was benched to cut. The veteran quarterback could be seen getting emotional as he discussed the situation on Thursday, knowing his time in New York was inevitably coming to an end.

“It wasn’t an easy situation when something like that happens,” Daboll said. “Again he came by (on Friday morning) and spoke to Mr Mara. They had their discussion. It’s never easy.

Jones has been the Giants’ starting quarterback for much of the last six years, leading New York to the playoffs and a wild-card win in 2022. That earned him the lucrative contract. But he had eight touchdown passes with seven interceptions this season and was 3-13 as a starter since signing his new contract.

“We really value and appreciate Daniel,” Mara said. “We wish him nothing but the best for the future.”