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NY Giants release QB Daniel Jones after six seasons and final benching

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NY Giants release QB Daniel Jones after six seasons and final benching

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EAST RUTHERFORD – Daniel Jones is no longer a New York Giant.

The quarterback who was benched earlier this week requested his release from the team in the aftermath and on Friday morning that request was granted, ending a six-year relationship between Jones and the Giants.

“Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him. We mutually agreed that would be best for him and for the team,” Giants co-owner and team president John Mara said in a statement.

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

The Giants will take a $22 million dead cap hit in 2025. Jones would have counted $41M against the cap if he were on the roster, so they save nearly $19.5M in 2025 cap space (plus $30.5M in cash).

Pushing any cap hits for Jones into 2026 made zero sense for future of the Giants. Not sure a post-June 1 designation would’ve even been considered next year. Take the whole hit and get Jones off the books. Continue the rebuild. You’re not saving anything by splitting the hit over two years, just spreading it out.

Jones is now subject to waivers. When he clears, which is expected, considering a new team would have to inherit a significant portion of his remaining salary for this season, Jones will be a free agent.

“We had a really good talk, Daniel and I, got a lot of respect for him,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “Again, not the way we wanted it to turn out, by any stretch, but he’s been nothing but a pro since I’ve been with him and he’s a great young man.”

The Giants needed Jones to be much better, and there was uncertainty he was capable of doing that here for the remainder of this season, regardless of the pieces around him. He has skipped throws at the feet of receivers in key spots. He’s double-clutched far too many times. His accuracy has been skittish, especially on deep balls.

It’s everything critics say defines Jones’ play, and why the Giants finally made the call coming out of their bye week Monday to bench Jones and start Tommy DeVito in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Giants agreeing to release Jones is somewhat surprising, if nothing else, because it is to Jones’ benefit. They could have done nothing and made him ride out the remainder of 2024. Now he could land with a team that plays the Giants between now and season’s end. While that may be unlikely, it’s now possible.

“This was not an easy situation when things happen like this,” Daboll said. “Again, he came in this morning and talked with Mr. Mara, and they had their discussion, and we talked. Thought it was best for him to be able to do that. He put a lot into it. He’s a great young man. It’s never easy.”

Check back here for more on this developing story.

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