The New York Giants have released QB Daniel Jones just 24 hours after Jones gave an emotional goodbye speech to the organization.
Giants release QB Daniel Jones. pic.twitter.com/yUIpkCtpCv
— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2024
"Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him. We mutually agreed that would be best for him and for the team," co-owner John Mara said. "Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way."
It was clear from his tone during Thursday's speech that Jones likely knew his time with the team was over and that he would likely request a release.
The Giants had a bye during Week 11, and when the team returned, head coach Brian Daboll told the media that Jones had been demoted to QB3. He was later demoted to QB4 when the team signed Tim Boyle to their practice squad.
Many of Jones' teammates came to the quarterback's defense following the benching. For example, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and wide receiver Darius Slayton were among those who publicly endorsed Jones, with Lawrence saying he was clearly the best quarterback on the roster.
— New York Giants (@Giants) November 22, 2024
Jones was drafted by the Giants as the sixth overall pick in 2019, and he has been with the team ever since. Over the course of his six-year career with the team, he threw for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdown passes, and 47 interceptions in 70 games played.
Jones had his best year in 2022, where he threw for 3,205 passing yards, 15 touchdown passes, and only five interceptions while leading the team to its first playoff win since the 2011 Super Bowl. After this promising season, the Giants extended Jones on a four-year deal worth $160 million, but only half of this contract was guaranteed. Another reason Jones was demoted was due to his poor play this season and his injury clause, which accounted for $23 million guaranteed in 2025. Jones' cap hit for next season will still be 22.21 million for the Giants.
The Giants are clearly now in full rebuild mode as the team sits at 2-8 and currently has the number three overall pick in the 2025 draft. With no more Jones, look for the Giants to target either Cam Ward or Sheduer Sanders in next year's draft.
Daniel Jones' future is still uncertain. Teams like the Cowboys, Titans, and Raiders all need a quarterback, but I wonder if they will sign Jones with just seven weeks to go in the season. Maybe all Jones needs is a fresh start, which has worked for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and both Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. It will be interesting to see where Jones' future is headed, but for now, the 2019 first-round pick is out of a job.
