Giants release Daniel Jones after QB requested to move on after benching

On By Littum

Daniel Jones has been released by the New York Giants, the team announced Friday.

A day after the quarterback read an emotional statement before his media session that was basically a farewell to the organization and fans, Giants owner John Mara said in a statement that Jones came to him and asked to be released.

“Daniel came to me this morning and asked if we wanted to release him. We mutually agreed that it would be best for him and for the team.

“Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that. We are all disappointed with how things have worked out.

“We hold Daniel in high esteem and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Jones will technically be placed on waivers, but given his contract, he will end up being an unrestricted free agent. He was in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract extension that he signed in March 2023. There were no guaranteed money back after this season, and once Jones clears waivers and is released, the Giants will take on $47.1 million in dead salary cap space this season and $22.2 million in 2025, according to Spotrac. They will also pay his entire $35.5 million salary.

The move will also free up $19.4 million in salary cap space for next season.

This was the inevitable conclusion after Jones spent parts of Thursday’s practice working with the scout team, even lining up at safety during a walkthrough. The sixth-year quarterback was benched this week by head coach Brian Daboll in favor of Tommy DeVito, and before taking questions from reporters, Jones read a prepared statement that sounded like a farewell to the organization.

“There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of them,” Jones said. “I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more victories. No one wanted to win more matches more than me and I gave everything I had on the court and in my preparation.”

The Giants drafted Jones no. 6 overall in 2019 as a replacement for Eli Manning. In six seasons as the Giants starter, Jones went 22-44-1 with one winning season and one playoff appearance — both coming in 2022. He recorded 70 career touchdown passes and 47 interceptions, along with 26 lost fumbles, and was also sacked 208 times in 70 games.