The Daniel Jones era is now officially over in New York, as the Giants announced Friday that Jones has asked for and been granted his release, and is now a free agent.
"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,” team owner John Mara said in a statement released by the team late Friday morning. “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. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future."
Head coach Brian Daboll made the announcement earlier this week that Jones was being benched and actually downgraded to the fourth quarterback, with Tommy DeVito taking over as starter effective Sunday against Tampa Bay. Drew Lock, signed to a one-year deal to be Jones’ backup, would remain QB2, and the Giants signed veteran Tim Boyle to the practice squad as an emergency backup.
Jones, in a press conference Thursday, addressed the change ahead of releasing a written thank you statement, and he ended up playing safety on the scout team for part of Thursday’s practice.
The Giants will now amass over $20 million in dead cap space in 2025 by releasing Jones now, but will have about the same amount in new cap space. Assuming Jones clears waivers, which he likely will, he will be free to sign with any team.
Given the current QB situations around the league, and assuming Jones wants a chance to start at some point, possibilities include Las Vegas, who have been wavering between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew this season, as well as Dallas (currently starting Cooper Rush after a season-ending injury to Dak Prescott), or maybe even Cleveland, who defeated Pittsburgh Thursday night behind backup Jameis Winston, who is starting with Deshaun Watson out for the season with a torn Achilles.