The New York Giants have had their share of head-scratching decisions over the years, but releasing Daniel Jones wasn’t one of them. On the surface, cutting ties with your starting quarterback midseason might seem outright wrong, but it was a calculated move to avoid disaster—both on the field and in the books.
Let’s be real: Jones was never the long-term solution. Despite flashes of promise under head coach Brian Daboll, he never figured things out. Behind a battered offensive line, Jones struggled, and the risks of keeping him became glaringly obvious. His contract included a $23 million injury guarantee for 2025. If Jones had gotten hurt and failed his offseason physical, the G-Men would have been on the hook for that massive payout.
Instead of risking their financial future, the Giants benched Jones and eventually released him. It was a bold, forward-thinking move—one that came with a significant short-term cost but saved them from an even bigger problem down the line.
The New York Giants dodged a potential major bullet for 2025
Cutting Jones left the Giants with $47.1 million in dead cap for 2024 and another $22.1 million in 2025. That’s a big hit, but it also freed up $19.4 million in cap space for next year. More importantly, it protected them from the $23 million injury guarantee that would have been triggered if Jones got hurt while also securing a top pick in the 2025 draft.
And the risk of injury was all too real. Since Jones’ release, both of his backups have gone down. Tommy DeVito hurt his forearm, Drew Lock left a game in a walking boot, and when DeVito returned, he suffered a concussion. Tim Boyle came in relief for DeVito. Things are bad for Big Blue.
Tim Boyle is now in at QB for the Giants as Tommy DeVito is out being evaluated for a concussion and Drew Lock was ruled inactive prior to the start of the game. pic.twitter.com/vUx0vTSVkg
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 15, 2024
With the way the Giants’ offensive line has played, it’s hard to imagine Jones surviving the rest of the season unscathed. Keeping him around would have been an invitation for disaster—and a financial anchor the Giants couldn’t afford.
This move wasn’t about giving up on the season. It was about protecting the future. With a likely top-three draft pick, the Giants are well-positioned to select a young, franchise-caliber quarterback and start fresh. The $19.4 million in cap space they freed up by cutting Jones gives them the flexibility to address glaring roster needs, like upgrading the interior offensive line, defensive line, defensive backfield, and offensive skill positions. Basically everything.
It wasn’t an easy call, but it was a necessary one. By releasing Jones, the Giants avoided a potential financial nightmare and positioned themselves to hopefully, maybe, finally rebuild the right way. For a franchise stuck in neutral for years, this was a step toward progress.
Painful? Sure. Smart? Absolutely. The Giants made the tough call now to protect their future—and for once, they got it right.