Jones’ response, DeVito, Lock Incentives

The Giants ripped off the band-aid today on the bench Daniel Jones before week 12 and probably beyond. The move didn’t come as a complete surprise given Jones’ subpar play in 2024, especially during the Giants’ active five-game losing streak. While the turn atop the depth chart seemed inevitable, the team’s trio of quarterbacks only found out this morning.

(RELATED: Giants start Tommy DeVito in Week 12)

As I speak to reporters today, coach Brian Daboll revealed that he met with the Giants’ three QBs to discuss the team’s “direction” (per Connor Hughes SNYtv). Naturally, Jones did not appreciate his demotion well.

“As a competitor you are certainly not going to be happy with that, and I respect that,” Daboll said of his former starter (via Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports).

Daboll also admitted that he had spoken to Jones about the player’s future with the organization, but the coach kept those conversations private (per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). While the QB is still locked into his four-year, $160 million extension, he has no salary committed beyond the 2024 campaign. Jones’ $23 million injury guarantee for 2025 likely played a role in the organization’s thinking, especially as the front office announced this offseason had an easy out ($30.5 million in cap savings, $11.11 million in dead cap).

So the team will now go to Tommy DeVito. The QB went 3-3 as a starter last season, and Daboll acknowledged that DeVito’s performance in 2023 played a role in the team’s 2024 decision (via Hughes). The Giants’ decision to go with DeVito is over Drew Slot It could also be financially motivated. Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti notes that Lock still could have achieved a handful of incentives, most notably $250,000 bonuses based on passer rating, completion percentage and touchdowns/receiving yards. When Daboll was coached for work over the next month, the coach probably paid little attention to this factor.

Of course, Lock can still see the field if DeVito gets injured or is benched. The Giants will roll with Lock as their primary backup, meaning Jones won’t even dress as the team wants to avoid an injury to the highly paid QB.