Daniel Jones’ tenure with the New York Giants appears to be effectively over, as head coach Brian Daboll confirmed that the quarterback, once signed to be the franchise’s long-term solution, has been demoted to third string following the team’s bye week.
Tommy DeVito, who stepped in for the injured Jones and Tyrod Taylor earlier this season, has now been named the starting quarterback, surpassing Drew Lock, who was signed to a $5 million contract this offseason to serve as Jones’ backup.
Daboll described the decision to bench Jones, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, as a “hard decision,” and it has left some Giants players, including defensive captain Dexter Lawrence, confused.
In a recent volunteering event at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Lawrence expressed his support for Jones, calling him the “best quarterback on the team.”
“He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team,” Lawrence said. “But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.”
Lawrence admitted there was some “little bit of confusion” about the decision but noted he wasn’t privy to the conversations between Jones, the coaching staff, and the front office.
“I think we trust the coaches and where they’re going and where they think we can go,” Lawrence explained. “That’s what you have to do. You have to be naive and trust the process. You think about the wrong s— and then you start playing like s—.”
Lawrence and Jones, both team captains, have developed a close bond over the years, with Lawrence referring to Jones as his “best friend.”
As a result, Lawrence feels particularly protective of Jones, and his defense of him was heartfelt. “It’s tough for that [benching] to happen,” Lawrence said.
“I can’t control it. They made the decision based off their evaluations, and thoughts and feelings. You’ve got to respect it as a player, even though you don’t like it. As a player, you have to keep playing. As a human and as a brother, I feel for him.”
While Jones’ commitment and work ethic have never been in question, the results on the field have not matched expectations since he signed his four-year, $160 million extension two offseasons ago.
This extension came during an offseason marked by the franchise tagging of star running back Saquon Barkley, who eventually left for the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency prior to the start of this season.
Jones has struggled over the past two seasons, compiling a 3-13 record and missing much of the 2023 season due to a knee injury.
This season, he holds the NFL’s lowest quarterback rating (79.4) and has thrown just eight touchdowns against seven interceptions in 10 games.
The Giants’ offense has also struggled, ranking as the lowest-scoring unit in the league with Jones under center.
Jones’ demotion is also a financial move for the front office. His contract includes a $23 million injury guarantee, which won’t activate with the benching.
With an opt-out clause available after two years, the Giants are expected to part ways with Jones after the 2024 season.
“He’s strong. He gets the business side of it,” Lawrence said of how Jones has handled the benching. “I guess they talked about it.
He obviously doesn’t like the choice that was made. But he has to live with it, and I think he’ll grow through it.”
Despite his support for Jones, Lawrence recognizes that the Giants’ issues extend beyond just one player.
He pointed out that the team has struggled with the worst rushing defense in the league, a problem they hoped to address after facing similar difficulties last season.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who was brought in for his expertise in improving rushing defense, has yet to make a significant impact.
Ultimately, the Giants’ rebuild continues, and the search for a franchise quarterback resumes.
They had hoped Jones would be that player after a strong 2022 season in which they made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and won a wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings.
However, it now seems the Giants will look to free agency and the NFL Draft to find a new signal caller who can lead them out of the rut they’ve been in throughout Jones’ tenure with the team.
