The Giants did it their way on Friday.
Veteran quarterback Daniel Jones has been released by the New York Giants, the team announced on Friday.
Not even 24 hours after the signal caller read an emotional statement prior to his media availability that was for all intent and purposes a goodbye to the organization and fans, Giants owner John Mara said in a statement that Jones came to him and asked to be released.
“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.
“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.
Embed from Getty Images“We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
Jones will technically be placed on waivers, but considering his lofty contract he will end up becoming an unrestricted free agent. He was in year two of a four-year, $160 million contract extension he inked in March 2023. However, there was no guaranteed money remaining after this season and once Jones clears waivers and is released, the Giants will eat $47.1 million in dead salary cap space this season and $22.2 million in 2025, according to Spotrac. They will also pay out his entire $35.5 million salary.
The move will also free up $19.4 million in salary cap space for 2025.
This was the conclusion that everyone saw coming a mile away, after Jones spent parts of Thursday’s practice working with the scout team, even lining up at safety during a walkthrough. The sixth-year QB out of Duke was benched earlier this week by head coach Brian Daboll in favor of fan favorite Tommy DeVito, who is a New Jersey native and before taking questions from reporters Jones read a prepared statement that sounded like a farewell to the organization.
“There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of those,” Jones said in a statement. “I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing 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 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 results.
“The reality of the NFL is it’s hard to win games. It requires consistent performance for everyone involved. We didn’t do that well enough, so the idea to change something happens and I understand. I love the game, I love being part of the team. I’m excited for the next opportunity. I know there is a lot of good football in front of me, and I’m excited about that.”
DeVito will make his first start of the season Sunday against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. DeVito went 3-3 as a starter in 2023.
The Giants drafted Jones No. 6 overall in 2019 as the replacement for Eli Manning who played for the ‘G Men’ for 16 seasons and gave the franchise two Super Bowls in 2007 and 2011. In six seasons as the Giants starter, Jones went 22-44-1 with one season with a winning record and one playoff appearance, both came in 2022. He recorded 70 career touchdown passes and 47 interceptions, as well as 26 fumbles lost, and was also sacked an unbelievable 208 times in 70 games.
