Did Daniel Jones play his last snap as a Giant in Munich, Germany? Following an overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers 23-20, the New York Giants are now 3-13 in Daniel Jones’ last 16 starts, a record that has led many to believe Jones’s time in New York is over. After 10 weeks of frustration, the question remains: how much more patience can this team afford to show with Jones?
Daniel Jones has played six seasons with the Giants, accounting for only 23 wins. As well as winning more then five games in only one of those seasons. Additionally, in primetime, Jones has a record of 1-14.
It Is Time for the Giants to Move on From Daniel Jones. A Look at His Future After the Loss in Munich
Brian Daboll Hints at Possible QB Change
The questions relating to Jones’ future reached a boiling point on Monday when head coach Brian Daboll was asked directly whether Jones would remain the team’s starting quarterback. Instead of showing any confidence, Daboll said the team is ‘evaluating things.’ That’s a far cry from his seemingly supportive comments made previously, and it’s certainly jacking up the pressure on the Giants as they head into their Week 11 bye.
Critical Decision During Bye Week
It just so happens the bye falls at an opportunistic time for the Giants coaching staff to weigh options at quarterback. With the trade deadline behind them, the team won’t be able to add anyone through trade, and thus, their remaining seven games come down to two options: Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito. Neither quarterback has extensive experience, and neither has demonstrated that type of playmaking ability to indicate they can take the Giants through the remaining stretch of the season. For Daboll, it is now time to evaluate.
A big factor in the Giant’s next decision will revolve around the financial situation involving Jones‘ contract. The Giants are tied to a big commitment after giving Jones a $160 million contract this offseason, and they’ll stay that way through 2026. However, if Jones were to suffer a severe injury and fail a physical by March, the Giants would be off the hook for the $23 million in fully guaranteed money for next year.
There’s not a player that has been more painful to watch, given the expectations for him coming into the 2024 season than Jones. While the Giants had very high hopes for him after the career season in 2022–where he led the Giants to the playoff appearance and improved his decision-making, many believed he finally had turned a corner. However, in a downward spiral of a season, Jones has eight passing touchdowns, seven interceptions and just over 2,000 yards passing. In year six in the NFL, these numbers can’t be justified.
Drew Lock Emerges Towards Next Starter
The next man up could be Drew Lock, who inked a one-year deal with the Giants this offseason after spending two seasons with the Seahawks. Lock has only played sparingly this year, going 3–of–8 for 6 yards in a loss to the Eagles, where he saw limited playing time in “garbage time”. But in his performance last season with Seattle, he started two games and threw for 543 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions, showing that he can command an offense. He had a particular game-winning touchdown pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 15 that gave Seattle a close win.
Lock could be getting a chance shortly to prove himself. After being dealt to the Seahawks as part of the Russell Wilson trade, Lock ended up in New York with an opportunity to win the Giants’ starting job. That will depend on how the Giants assess Jones’ future during the bye week.
Former Bright Spot
Injury prone last season, most notably at quarterback, with Daniel Jones and veteran backup Tyrod Taylor missing considerable time. It forced un-drafted rookie Tommy DeVito to be thrown into the starting role. DeVito, out of Syracuse, New York, impressed many fans during his play. He racked up over 1,100 passing yards over six starts in nine games, throwing eight touchdowns and three interceptions while earning a cult following with his “Tommy Cutlets” nickname and a viral celebration gesture.
The best performance from DeVito came in Week 5 against Washington when he threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns while completing 69% of his passes. His arm strength-especially on some of the shorter and intermediate throws-was a factor in how easily he led to quick and accurate passes. But his deep-ball accuracy improved as he attempted six deep passes, completing three of them and including two for touchdowns. Such ability to stretch the field opens the rest of the field to the offense and gives it a new dimension it lacked.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
