NFL
Contract comparison: Tommy DeVito and Daniel Jones as Giants' QB switch made
It’s all change in New York as a bye week allows more thought on what’s in the quarterback pocket.
The New York Giants have somewhat hit the reset button at quarterback, and the contrast between their signal-callers is as sharp as a freshly chalked sideline. Tommy DeVito, a relative newcomer with a modest contract, steps into the backup role, while Daniel Jones – once the franchise’s hope – takes a disappointing seat as the emergency QB.
Let’s break down how the Giants are reshuffling their deck and the financial layers behind it.
How much do the Giants pay their quarterbacks?
DeVito’s two-year, $1.665 million deal feels like pocket change compared to Jones’ blockbuster four-year, $160 million extension. DeVito will earn $915,000 in 2024, the entirety of which counts against the cap. It’s a contract that screams “low risk,” especially for a team now searching for answers at quarterback.
Jones, on the other hand, has been a costly investment. The 2023 extension made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks with an average annual value of $40 million. However, only $81 million of that was guaranteed, allowing the Giants an escape route starting in 2025. That escape will cost them a $22.2 million dead cap hit, but that’s still a relative bargain if Jones’ recent performances are anything to go by.
Details as per spotrac.
Why has Daniel Jones been benched?
It was inevitable. Jones has struggled mightily in 2024, guiding the Giants to a 2-8 record and posting a passer rating of just 79.4 – fourth worst in the league. Numbers like that don’t inspire confidence, and the Giants' decision to sideline him also shields them from a contractual headache.
Had Jones sustained a significant injury while playing, his contract’s injury guarantee could have forced the team to keep him on the books through 2025. By benching him, the Giants sidestep this potentially expensive trap, making it clear that his future in New York is uncertain.
Value at quarterback with DeVito?
DeVito’s promotion is a testament to the Giants’ shifting priorities. At less than $1 million a year, his deal is a steal for a position where even backups often earn several million. It’s unclear whether DeVito’s performance will ever warrant more than a modest paycheck, but right now, his role is more about stability than stardom.
What happens to Jones now?
Jones' demotion to third-string status marks a stunning fall for a quarterback once seen as the Giants' future. The team’s decision to promote DeVito above Drew Lock to starter underscores their pivot toward experimentation.
For Jones, the writing is on the wall: barring a miraculous resurgence or a change in team leadership, his days as a Giant are likely numbered. The team can release him after this season with manageable financial consequences, and that outcome feels increasingly likely.
It’s the Bucs up next for the Giants...
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