In a move that sent shockwaves through the NFL, the New York Giants have made the decision to bench starting quarterback Daniel Jones. The former sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft has been the face of the franchise for the past six seasons, but after a disappointing 2-8 start to the 2024 campaign, head coach Brian Daboll has opted to make a change under center.
The Rise and Fall of Daniel Jones
When the Giants surprisingly selected Jones with their top pick in 2019, they envisioned him as the heir apparent to Eli Manning and the quarterback who would lead the team back to Super Bowl contention. Despite some early struggles with turnovers, Jones showed flashes of promise in his first few seasons.
His breakout came in 2022, when he posted career-bests in passing yards and touchdowns while leading the Giants to a surprising playoff berth. That performance earned him a massive four-year, $160 million contract extension, seemingly cementing his status as the franchise quarterback.
However, the 2023 season saw Jones regress significantly. His numbers dipped across the board as the Giants stumbled to a 7-10 record. Concerns about his decision-making and ability to elevate the players around him began to surface.
Continued Struggles in 2024
Any hopes of a bounceback year in 2024 were quickly dashed. Through ten games, Jones has thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (9), and the Giants rank dead last in scoring offense. Daboll had seen enough, opting to give backup Tommy DeVito a chance to spark the team after their bye week.
“This was a tough decision, but one we felt was necessary,” a source close to the situation revealed. “Daniel is a tremendous worker and leader, but the production just hasn’t been there. We need to see if Tommy can provide a spark.”
The Salary Cap Conundrum
Complicating matters for the Giants is Jones’ contract. While the team can move on from him after this season with a manageable dead cap hit, he has a $23 million injury guarantee for 2025. If Jones were to suffer a serious injury in the final seven games, the Giants would be on the hook for that money.
By benching him now, they can protect against that risk while also evaluating DeVito and potentially positioning themselves for a top draft pick to select a new quarterback of the future like Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
Locker Room Impact
While the move may make business sense, it remains to be seen how the Giants’ locker room will respond. Jones is a respected leader who has earned the trust and admiration of his teammates through his work ethic and toughness.
“Daniel is our guy, our captain,” said tight end Daniel Bellinger after the team’s latest loss. “He’s the one we want leading us.”
How the team rallies around DeVito, a 2024 third-round pick with minimal NFL experience, could determine whether the Giants can salvage anything from this lost season or if wholesale changes are on the horizon.
An Uncertain Future
For Jones, this benching likely spells the end of his tenure with the Giants. Still just 27 years old, he will undoubtedly generate interest from quarterback-needy teams this offseason. His combination of physical tools and flashes of high-end play will entice a franchise to give him a second chance as a starter.
The Giants, meanwhile, find themselves at a crossroads. Three years into the Daboll/Schoen regime, the pressure will be on to find a long-term answer at the game’s most important position. Whether that comes via the draft, free agency, or a blockbuster trade remains to be seen.
What is clear is that the Daniel Jones era in New York has reached its unceremonious conclusion. A tenure that began with such promise has ended with disappointment and uncertainty. As the Giants turn the page, the football world will be watching to see what the next chapter holds for both the franchise and its deposed quarterback.
