In NFL Week 12 news, the New York Giants are releasing quarterback Daniel Jones. The move comes after the team benched him and demoted him to third-string behind Tommy DeVito and veteran Drew Lock.
According to a statement from owner John Mara, Jones asked for his release. The team agreed.
In six years with New York, the 27-year-old made 69 starts. He accrued a record of 24-44-1 in the regular season and a 1-1 record in the playoffs.
Jones Was Not a Bad Draft Pick
Former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman drafted Jones sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Duke. While the pick was viewed as an overreach for a player perceived as approximately the 20th best in that draft, he was not selected ahead of any player who would elicit endless regret like the Jets taking Ken O’Brien ahead of Dan Marino.
The argument can be made that Gettleman’s bigger mistake was drafting a player who performed far better than Jones in a Giants uniform — Saquon Barkley — second overall in 2018.
Few teams take a running back with such a high pick anymore given the relative ease of finding a functional back in later rounds. Worse, they selected Barkley ahead of Indianapolis’ three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and Buffalo’s star quarterback Josh Allen.
The Giants’ Dysfunction Doomed the QB
Jones left everything on the field for New York. He recovered from a neck injury that jeopardized his career and a torn ACL. He never had consistent coaching. The Giants cycled through head coaches Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Brian Daboll. He had four offensive coordinators — Mike Shula, Jason Garrett, Freddie Kitchens, and Mike Kafka — with different philosophies.
No quarterback could have succeeded in this environment.
Who Will Sign Him and Will It Have an Impact?
Jones must pass through waivers. No team is claiming him and he will soon be a free agent, able to sign with any team.
What are the best fits and can it impact their outlook?
- San Francisco 49ers — Starter Brock Purdy is out with a shoulder injury for Week 12’s showdown with the Packers in Green Bay. Journeyman Brandon Allen is starting. If Purdy is injured for an extended period, Jones makes sense.
- Miami Dolphins — After Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion, Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson were almost useless.
- Kansas City Chiefs — Carson Wentz is Patrick Mahomes’ backup, but Jones could be a practice squad/emergency option who’d benefit from a stable, winning situation.
- Dallas Cowboys — Jones is certainly better than Cooper Rush and no one knows what Trey Lance is.
- Green Bay Packers — The Packers didn’t trust Malik Willis to make anything but safe, high-percentage throws while Jordan Love was out. Jones can run that offense.
- New Orleans Saints — Having won two straight, New Orleans is still alive for a playoff spot. Spencer Rattler was not ready when Derek Carr was injured.
The NFL Week 12 news of Jones’ release is best for all involved, but the Giants’ treatment of him is another pockmark on their reputation. It could lead to top draft prospects like Shedeur Sanders (and his father Deion) refusing to entertain the possibility of playing there.
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