A few seasons ago, Daniel Jones was seen as a promising quarterback, especially after helping the New York Giants break a five-year playoff drought in 2022. Jones displayed dual-threat capabilities, with career highs in passing yards (3,205), a completion rate of 67.2%, and a 92.5 passer rating, alongside an impressive 708 rushing yards. This success, capped with a playoff win against the Minnesota Vikings, led the Giants to sign him to a four-year, $160 million deal in March 2023. The contract, with $104 million in guarantees and incentives pushing its potential value to $195 million, positioned Jones among the top seven highest-paid NFL quarterbacks, tying him with stars like Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford.
Yet, the 2022 season now looks more like a flash in the pan for both Jones and the Giants. The team had started strong with a 6-1 record but relied heavily on narrow victories, ultimately finishing 9-7-1. By 2023, Jones had begun to falter before a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9, leaving the Giants with “buyer’s remorse.” General Manager Joe Schoen even considered trading up in the 2024 NFL Draft to secure a quarterback but instead selected LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers to strengthen the team around Jones. To further bolster Jones’ support, the Giants signed offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan Jr. during free agency. Despite these efforts, Jones’ performance continued to decline, prompting head coach Brian Daboll to reconsider Jones’ starting position after a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers. Going into the Week 11 bye, Daboll was noncommittal about starting Jones for Week 12, opening the door for potential replacements Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito.
A significant hurdle remains with Jones’ contract, particularly the $23 million in guarantees for 2025. If he stays healthy, the Giants could release him, saving nearly $20 million against the cap. However, an injury could leave the Giants liable for that guaranteed amount, making the decision to bench Jones a prudent one. Comparatively, other teams have made similar moves; the Raiders and Broncos benched high-profile quarterbacks like Derek Carr and Russell Wilson due to looming salary guarantees. The Giants, with their dismal 2-8 record, find themselves in an increasingly competitive “race to the bottom” for the 2025 NFL Draft, where they may look for a fresh start at quarterback.
Although Schoen downplayed Jones’ contract as a factor, Jones’ lackluster play has raised serious questions. Among 29 quarterbacks with at least 400 attempts since the start of 2023, Jones ranks unfavorably, with just a 76.6 passer rating, ahead of only a few players like Bryce Young. Even Desmond Ridder, whom the Falcons quickly deemed expendable, has posted better numbers. With Jones’ touchdown-to-interception ratio and yards per attempt near the bottom, the Giants have ample reasons to consider a quarterback change before his contract impacts the team’s financial flexibility.
Durability concerns add to the Giants’ dilemma. Jones’ playing style exposes him to extra hits, and with key linemen like Andrew Thomas injured, his risk of further injury is even greater. Should Jones suffer another injury and be unable to pass a physical by March 16, the Giants could find themselves in a financial bind, as seen in a similar situation with Logan Ryan. Released while recovering from an injury, Ryan successfully disputed $3 million in guarantees in a grievance against the Giants.
If the Giants release Jones before March 16, they would free up $19.395 million in 2025 cap space, though they’d incur $22.21 million in dead money. Regardless of Jones’ status for the remainder of the season, it appears the Giants are preparing to part ways with him. While Daboll and Schoen recently received a vote of confidence from Giants co-owner John Mara, another disappointing season could still result in sweeping changes, potentially ending Jones’ tenure with the team and altering the Giants’ leadership structure once again.
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