Quarterback Daniel Jones has been reportedly replaced by Tommy DeVito in an aggressive move by the New York Giants. While the team has a bye in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season, as noted by ESPN, general manager Joe Schoen has pulled the plug on Jones and chosen third-string QB DeVito despite Drew Lock being the backup. Here are several reasons why Jones is being replaced mid-season despite him not being injured.
Why is Daniel Jones being replaced by Tommy DeVito?
Daniel Jones has been benched in favor of DeVito due to his poor performance across the season and so that the Giants can ostensibly prevent him from being injured.
The now 27-year-old Jones, who was drafted in the 2019 NFL draft by the Giants, has struggled in 2024 as the team has a 2-8 record in the regular season. He has poted a passer rating of 79.4, which is near the bottom of the list. Overall, Jones has gone 3-13 over the past two seasons, and in 2023, he sustained a neck injury in Week 5 that took him out of three games and then had a torn ACL to his right knee after Week 9.
In a contract signed in 2023, Jones is still under a four year, $160 million deal. The contract includes an injury guarantee of $23 million that would be paid out if he suffers a significant injury and still can’t play by March of next year. Benching him now would ensure that this doesn’t happen.
As for way Drew Lock was passed over as starting quarterback, Paul Schwartz from the New York Post stated that he is not under contract in 2025. Meanwhile, DeVito “will be an exclusive rights free agents in 2025” who could “be a backup or the bridge starter.” This would give DeVito more experience this season as it looks like a long shot for the Giants to make it to the playoffs anyway. It’s also a test to see if he can capture some of the magic he had in a three-game winning streak during the 2023 season.
Jones is currently dating Ella Bonafede, though it was rumored that he was also in a relationship with Kay Adams.
