Giants grant Jones release after benching

The New York Giants are releasing quarterback Daniel Jones, the team announced Friday.

The move comes after the Giants benched Jones earlier this week.

“Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him,” team president John Mara said in a statement on X. “We mutually agreed that 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 in how things have worked out.”

Jones will be subject to waivers, though his contract likely means he’ll go unclaimed. The Duke product will be eligible to sign with any team Monday at 4:01 p.m. ET.

The 27-year-old’s current deal runs through 2026. His release leaves the Giants with dead cap hits of $47.1 million in 2024 and $22.2 million in 2025, per Spotrac. New York frees up $19.4 million in 2025 with the move.

Jones thanked the Giants in a statement Thursday during his media availability.

“The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true, and I’m extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here,” Jones said, per SNY. “The Giants are truly a first-class organization, and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who have built it and who help carry on that tradition.”

Jones has quarterbacked the team to a 2-8 mark this season, including a 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Germany in the team’s last game Nov. 10. He’s thrown for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season.

The 2019 sixth overall pick has mostly struggled during his career. He’s averaged 208.3 passing yards per game with 70 touchdowns against 47 interceptions in 70 career games. Jones owns a 24-44-1 record as a starter.