The era of Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback for the New York Giants appears to be coming to an end. With the team struggling to a 2-8 record this season, the Giants have opted to bench the troubled quarterback in favor of Tommy DeVito, who has garnered fan support as a backup.
The change follows a bye week after the Giants’ fifth consecutive loss, a game that went into overtime against the Carolina Panthers on November 10. The decision to switch quarterbacks also comes with a strategic move to protect the organization financially, as Jones has a contract clause that could secure him $23 million in 2025 if he ends up failing a physical due to an injury from this season. It’s important to note that such clauses are not uncommon for prominent quarterbacks who typically hold the highest salaries on the team.
Despite rumors that Jones’ contract influenced the decision, Giants general manager Joe Schoen emphasized that this was purely a football-related choice. In a similar vein, previous quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Derek Carr have faced comparable circumstances where management made choices to bypass costly payments related to injury stipulations in their contracts.
Jones, who entered the season with no guaranteed money beyond this year, has been underperforming and is currently in the second year of a substantial four-year, $160 million extension. Should the Giants decide to move on from him, they could be looking at incurring $22 million in dead money while scouting for a new franchise quarterback in what is anticipated to be a promising draft class.
With DeVito stepping up, it marks a significant turn for the Giants. He is well-known to locals as a Syracuse standout and a New Jersey native who previously won over fan favor due to his spirited performances last season. His nickname “Tommy Cutlets” reflects his cultural roots and has made him a beloved figure in the community.
The Giants are set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium this Sunday, and fans will be eager to see how DeVito performs in his new role.
This pivot to DeVito can be viewed as an opportunity for rejuvenation within the team and for a quarterback looking to establish himself. There’s hope that this change could reinvigorate the team’s dynamic, engage the fan base, and potentially pave the way for a brighter future. As the Giants navigate through a challenging season, there is always the possibility of finding new strengths and solutions in unexpected places.