Tommy DeVito

Jameis Winston Signing Won’t Preclude Giants From Additional QB Moves

March 22nd, 2025 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants finally added a quarterback yesterday when they agreed to terms with Jameis Winston. While the veteran acquisition would seem to represent a bridge option for the organization, the signing may not preclude the Giants from making additional big-name moves at the position.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the addition of Winston wouldn’t prevent the Giants from still adding a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. In fact, even if the Giants do add another veteran to their QBs room, the team would still be expected to add a rookie signal caller with the third-overall pick.

This is similar to what we heard last week. As the Rodgers saga continued, there was a report that the Giants may pull the trigger on a free agent acquisition sooner than later. The team reportedly had an eye on Mason Rudolph, but after striking out on that pursuit, they landed a free agent with even more starting experience.

Winston’s two-year, $8MM agreement with the Giants is certainly in line (or even below) the going rate for backup quarterbacks. With 87 games of starting experience (including seven starts with the Browns in 2024), it was initially assumed that Winston would keep the seat warm for the No. 3 pick. Instead, a rookie acquisition could be redshirted for the 2025 campaign, and Winston could serve as a traditional QB2 to another free agent target.

As Rodgers took a long meeting with the Steelers yesterday, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Giants’ chances are dwindling in that sweepstakes. Still, there remains a connection between New York and Wilson. Fowler says the veteran QB still views the Giants as a “viable option,” and considering opportunities are starting to dry up around the NFL, Wilson may have to ultimately take what he can get.

With Winston joining Tommy DeVito on the roster, there’s now less urgency for the Giants to make a splash at the position, especially if they intend to use the third-overall pick on a quarterback. However, Winston’s signing does provide the organization with a bit more flexibility, and there’s a good chance the front office isn’t finished reshaping their QBs room.

Giants Extend P Jamie Gillan, Re-Sign Tommy DeVito

March 8th, 2025 at 4:32pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants shored up two under-the-radar positions today, locking down both punter Jamie Gillan and quarterback Tommy DeVito to return in 2025. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Gillan is staying in New York on a three-year extension, while DeVito’s signing was announced by Dan Salomone, the senior managing editor of Giants.com.

According to Pelissero, Gillan’s deal is worth up to $10.2MM over the three-year period, placing him somewhere in the top five highest-paid punters in the NFL, depending on what the final numbers turn out to be. If the face value of the deal ends up being over $9MM, he will be in the top four.

Gillan just finished his sixth year in the NFL, splitting his time almost evenly between New York and Cleveland, where he first started. The Scotland-native signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2019. He took over punting duties as a rookie, demonstrating a strong leg and an ability to pin opposing offenses inside the 20 with regularity. Near the end of his third season with the Browns, Gillan was waived after sitting out of two games, and he signed with the Bills’ practice squad, though he failed to appear in any games with them.

When that season ended, the Giants signed him to a reserve/futures deal, and he became their primary punter in 2022. He’s held the role ever since, aside from four games last year when Matt Haack filled in due to injury. Gillan took his job back after returning to health, and with today’s extension, it looks like he’ll spend another three years in New York.

Quarterback doesn’t seem like an under-the-radar position to lock down, but DeVito’s role on his renewed deal will likely continue to be as a backup. DeVito shined in backup duty as a rookie, filling in for an injured Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor. In six starts, he went 3-3, throwing eight touchdowns to just three interceptions. He lost both of his starts last year as a fill-in, completing 70.5 percent of his passes but failing to register a touchdown or interceptions.

DeVito was set to be an exclusive rights free agent, but the team tendered and re-signed the former undrafted Illinois product, barring him from communicating with other teams on the market. While DeVito and Drew Lock return as the top two passers on the roster, it’s unlikely that either will be the preferred starter by the time the season swings around.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/6/25

March 6th, 2025 at 8:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:

RFAs

Tendered:

Patriots: LB Christian Elliss

Non-tendered:

Patriots: OL Lester Cotton

ERFAs:

Tendered:

Giants: QB Tommy DeVito

One of four Luther Elliss sons who has made it to the NFL, Christian joins Kaden and Jonah in being active players. Christian Elliss turned in his best season in 2024, making 80 tackles — after his previous career high was 23 — to go with 1.5 sacks and an interception for the Patriots. New England used him as a five-game starter.

DeVito’s Giants return had been known for a bit. The Giants have no plans to let the former UDFA compete for the starting job — at least, it would be a surprise if that happened — but once he signs the tender, he will be the only QB under contract with the team. New York is targeting veterans and rookies, being connected to several big names and moving up to No. 1 overall. After receiving the initial call (over UFA-to-be Drew Lock) to replace Daniel Jones, DeVito has now made eight career starts. A forearm injury led DeVito out of the Giants’ lineup, but the local product returned to make a second start against the Buccaneers weeks later.

John Mara: Giants Open To Resolving QB Issue With Draft Pick, Veteran

January 6th, 2025 at 5:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants saw their Daniel Jones plan implode this year, and after giving the Eli Manning successor six seasons, the team has no long-term option on its roster. As a result, John Mara stated the obvious by indicating quarterback is the Giants’ “No. 1 issue.”

Although the team’s Week 17 win bumped it out of the No. 1 overall draft slot, the Patriots’ Week 18 victory gave the Giants the No. 3 position. It figures to be much easier to acquire one of the preferred options in this draft compared to last year, when Joe Schoen‘s Drake Maye-based trade-up effort failed. Schoen and Brian Daboll are coming back, despite the steep decline that commenced this season, and Mara noted the Giants are open to upgrading at QB through the draft or via a veteran option.

“That’s obviously the No. 1 issue for us going into this offseason — to find our quarterback of the future,” Mara said, via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. “Whether that be draft or acquiring a veteran will be up to them to decide.”

The phrase “quarterback of the future” certainly points to the draft being the Giants’ preferred avenue, even with Mara adding (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) he is “just about out of patience” with his current setup. Like 2019, however, the Giants have a need in a draft that has long been viewed as rather shaky at the QB spot. Passing on Sam Darnold and Josh Allen to draft Saquon Barkley in 2018, the Giants could not realistically draft Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert in 2020 thanks to having chosen Jones sixth overall in ’19. The team passed on Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix last year, creating one of the NFL’s most glaring needs going into this offseason.

New York will bring back Tommy DeVito, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. DeVito can be retained via an ERFA tender, but Drew Lock is set for free agency. The Giants still rostered Manning going into 2019, when Jones arrived. That separates the ’19 offseason from what lies ahead for Mara’s team, which went 1-for-6 in playoff berths during the Jones era.

Circling back to Darnold would be an interesting effort for Schoen, who is assuredly on a scorching-hot seat after being retained today, after predecessor Dave Gettleman passed. But the Vikings may well use the franchise tag following this Pro Bowl season. Russell Wilson would profile as a stopgap at best, while Justin Fields may be more appealing due to his age (25) — even though he has yet to prove a consistent passer. Beyond this crop, a host of backup-level options are on their way to free agency. It would stand to reason, given the Giants’ draft position, they would be more interested in a college arm.

Some members of the Giants’ personnel staff are intrigued by Miami’s Cam Ward, who is viewed — along with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders — as one of this year’s top two QB prospects, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson notes. Considering the Giants are not making major staff changes, it would stand to reason they will carry their Ward interest toward the Combine. The Giants sent Schoen and player personnel director Tim McDonnell to the Pop-Tarts Bowl to watch Ward, who transferred from Incarnate Word and Washington State to close his career with the Hurricanes. The Giants also sent staffers to Boulder, Colo., to watch Sanders practices.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. slots Sanders ninth and Ward 18th among 2025 prospects; it will be interesting to see how the pre-draft process ends up sorting them and then the rest of the QB crop. With a gap existing — as of now, at least — between the Ward-Sanders tier and the field, the Giants would have a good shot at one of them.

The team was closely tied to McCarthy and Maye last year and hosted Penix and Nix on “30” visits. It should be expected a thorough round of meetings are coming again regarding this position, only the Giants are now in a more desperate spot due to Schoen and Daboll’s statuses and the gaping hole atop the depth chart.

In other Giants news, both Jon Runyan Jr. and Tyler Nubin underwent tightrope surgeries to address high ankle sprains. Runyan also underwent a shoulder procedure, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. Bobby Okereke is rehabbing a herniated disk in his back, the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard adds. Okereke should be recovered in time for OTAs. Two years remain on both Okereke and Runyan’s free agency deals.

Drew Lock To Remain Giants’ Starting QB

December 4th, 2024 at 11:43am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite a rough Thanksgiving outing, Drew Lock is staying in place as the Giants’ starting quarterback. Brian Daboll announced Wednesday he is keeping the former second-round pick in place.

Lock initially lost out to Tommy DeVito, even as the more experienced player resided as Daniel Jones‘ top backup throughout the season, but a forearm injury sidelined DeVito after his first start. It is not yet clear if DeVito will be ready to play in Week 14, but Lock will keep the keys for at least another week — for a Saints matchup.

Signed to a one-year, $5MM deal, Lock expressed understandable disappointment when Daboll initially tabbed DeVito over him following the Jones benching. This decision came a year after Tyrod Taylor displayed more frustration after being informed DeVito, a UDFA who began the 2023 season on the Giants’ practice squad, would keep the starting job even as the veteran came off IR. Daboll eventually went back to Taylor, though, and he is now going with Lock for a second straight game. DeVito will be limited in practice Wednesday.

Lock went 21 of 32 for 178 yards during a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys, a game that featured the Giants’ offense in gridlock most of the way. This week will at least mark a preparation difference for Lock, who will practice as the starter for the first time this season. With Geno Smith‘s two absences last season not being known days in advance, Daboll’s early proclamation will make for Lock’s first run of extended starter prep since he closed the 2021 season — after Teddy Bridgewater sustained a second concussion that year — as the Broncos’ QB1.

Denver demoted Lock after trading for Bridgewater that year, and the Missouri alum has not come especially close — as Smith easily won a 2022 Seahawks competition — to a starting gig. This will represent a key opportunity for the sixth-year vet, who appears likely to depart New York in free agency come March. DeVito, who sustained the forearm injury late in Week 12 but was not ruled out until just before the Dallas matchup, can be kept as an exclusive rights free agent.

Additionally, Daboll said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan) tight end Theo Johnson underwent foot surgery. The rookie fourth-rounder, who started 11 games this season, landed on IR recently. Not only is Johnson’s season over, but Daboll said the surgery rehab is expected to affect his offseason availability. With the Giants not making a substantial tight end move following Darren Waller‘s June retirement, it should be expected the team — especially now with this Johnson injury in the equation — addresses the position in 2025.

Giants To Start Drew Lock In Week 13

November 28th, 2024 at 11:38am CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 28: Raanan and colleague Adam Schefter report DeVito is expected to be out today, leaving Lock in position to start. Depending on how his pregame warm-up goes, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes DeVito could serve as New York’s backup or emergency third quarterback. With hours remaining until kickoff, though, today’s updates point further toward Lock getting the nod.

NOVEMBER 27: Although Brian Daboll declared Tommy DeVito would remain the Giants’ starter for their Week 13 Thanksgiving matchup in Dallas, the popular New York passer has run into injury trouble.

DeVito is not traveling with the Giants to Dallas today, the team announced. A forearm injury has required more testing, with NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo noting the team’s current QB1 is on track to depart for Dallas later today. But DeVito may ultimately end up taking a seat.

It looks like a long shot DeVito will be ready to play on a short week, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets. That will move Drew Lock into the lineup. Lock had been Daniel Jones‘ backup all season, only to see Daboll look past him for DeVito in Week 12. Lock, who is tied to a one-year contract, is now on track to make his first start with the Giants. Tim Boyle, signed shortly after the Giants benched Jones, would be Lock’s backup if DeVito is inactive.

DeVito did not appear on the Giants’ injury report going into Tuesday but has since been listed as questionable for the team’s Cowboys rematch. The injury is to DeVito’s right arm, Daboll said (via SNY’s Connor Hughes), raising the hurdle for the 2023 UDFA to clear in time for Thursday. Multiple Giants reporters, Hughes among them, have speculated DeVito sustained the injury on a play with 11 seconds remaining in the Giants’ 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers.

Lock signed a one-year, $5MM deal with the Giants in March. While Seahawks GM John Schneider suggested the move was based largely on Lock receiving a chance to compete with Jones, that never ended up happening. The team did not hold a competition, and Lock settled into a backup role for the fourth straight season. A Broncos starter to close the 2019 season and throughout 2020, Lock ended up demoted — for Teddy Bridgewater — after an erratic 2020 slate in which he led the NFL in INTs. He did not beat out Geno Smith in 2022, upon being included in the Russell Wilson trade, through he did re-sign with the Seahawks last year.

DeVito leads Lock in starts over the past two seasons, making seven to Lock’s two, but the latter has 23 over the course of his career. The former second-round pick also led the Seahawks to a Monday-night win over the Eagles last season, with that victory coming as Philadelphia’s defense was mid-freefall. Lock can boost his 2025 free agency stock by playing well Thursday, in what is regularly the NFL’s most-watched regular-season game, and could certainly influence Daboll to give him more starts to close this season.

As Jones has since signed with the Vikings, DeVito and Lock may well need to offer competence in order for Daboll to keep his job. The Giants are rumored to be prepared to keep both GM Joe Schoen and Daboll, but an ugly Bucs loss coming out of a bye week did not present good optics. With the Jones re-signing backfiring, neither New York power broker should be too comfortable over this season’s homestretch.

Giants Intend To Start Tommy DeVito In Week 13

November 25th, 2024 at 11:54am CST by Adam La Rose

The start of the post-Daniel Jones era did not go well for the Giants. The team’s lopsided Week 12 loss will not lead to another change on the quarterback depth chart, however.

Head coach Brian Daboll said after Sunday’s 30-7 loss that Tommy DeVito will get the start on Thanksgiving if healthy. DeVito was forced to briefly exit the game during New York’s final drive before returning. His status will be worth watching closely over the coming days, but Daboll said on Monday (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo) he is “hopeful” DeVito will be available on a quick turnaround.

Jones was benched in the wake of New York’s loss against Carolina in Munich. That move did not come as a total surprise given the Giants’ record and the looming 2025 injury guarantee in Jones’ pact. Eyebrows were raised, though, when it was DeVito – not Drew Lock – who got the nod for Week 12. Lock had dressed as the backup all season, with DeVito serving as New York’s emergency third quarterback.

Lock inked a one-year, $5MM deal in free agency to operate as the Giants’ QB2. Despite that, Jones’ benching paved the way for DeVito to return to the lineup after he stepped in late in 2023. The former UDFA posted underwhelming numbers during his audition period last year, and on Sunday he threw for 189 scoreless yards at an average of 6.1 yards per attempt. He has the backing of the coaching staff, however, and Garafolo reports DeVito himself believes he will be at full strength for Thanksgiving’s contest against the Cowboys.

With the Giants sitting at 2-9 on the year, they are on track to have the chance to draft a new franchise passer this spring. Their spot in the order will depend in part on their showings over the coming weeks, including DeVito’s ability to lead the offense to improved performances compared to Sunday. A matchup with Dallas could provide a strong opportunity to do so, but struggles could give Daboll increased incentive to turn to Lock.

Plenty of speculation has been tied to the future of Daboll and Giants general manager Joe Schoen, although both could remain in place through the offseason. The decision to start DeVito had previously been tied to the potential of Daboll being on the hot seat, but for at least the time being that move is on track to be repeated.

Daniel Jones’ QB3 Status Uncertain; Latest On Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll

November 20th, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

For QB bubble-wrap scenarios, Daniel Jones‘ now looks closer to where Washington once went with Robert Griffin III compared to the two Jarrett Stidham AFC West instances over the past two seasons. It is conceivable Jones does not dress again as a Giant.

Today, the Giants went through practice with the six-year starter as the No. 4 quarterback. Recent practice squad addition Tim Boyle worked ahead of Jones, and Brian Daboll said (via the33rdTeam.com’s Ari Meirov) he is not certain which of the two will be the emergency No. 3 option in Week 12.

Drew Lock handled the Giants’ scout-team work Wednesday, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy adds. No. 3 QBs often operate in that role during practices, but the Giants will not ask Jones to do so. This further points to the team doing as much as it can to ensure the veteran starter — who suffered an ACL tear in 2023 and missed two stretches due to neck issues during his career — stays healthy, as a $23MM injury guarantee would come into play if an injury prevented Jones from passing a physical by the start of the 2025 league year. Otherwise, the Giants can move on for minimal — all things considered — dead money.

Yes, Jones received a staggering six seasons — give or take some injury absences and Eli Manning starting the first two games of the 2019 season — of run as the Giants’ starter and is in Year 2 of a four-year, $160MM contract, but this demotion is not going over too well in the team’s locker room. Dexter Lawrence called Jones the best quarterback on the team, and Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz adds others are disappointed by the way the Giants have effectively moved the QB out of the picture by dropping him to the third (or fourth) string.

Last year, Boyle ended up going from Zach Wilson‘s replacement to the waiver wire within hours; this came after Robert Saleh had still called Wilson the Jets’ best quarterback. While Boyle has a chance to serve as the other Big Apple team’s emergency QB Sunday, Lock is obviously disappointed by the team’s decision to start Tommy DeVito over him. Lock said (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) both Daboll and GM Joe Schoen met with each QB on Monday to discuss the depth chart shuffle. Lock is tied to a one-year, $5MM deal and has 23 starts to DeVito’s six.

That said, the Giants viewing DeVito as a better runner and recalling the spark he provided last year’s team factored into the decision, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano adds. A 2023 UDFA, DeVito profiles as the best candidate among the current QBs to remain on the Giants’ roster beyond this season. Jones will be cut, likely via a post-June 1 designation, and Lock will presumably move on to another backup gig. Though, Lock’s stock has tumbled since the Broncos’ 2021 Teddy Bridgewater trade.

As for Jones, he remains with the Giants. Russell Wilson being demoted largely for contract reasons did not lead to him leaving the Broncos immediately, though Derek Carr did step away from the Raiders after Stidham replaced him in Week 17 of the 2022 season. Washington had picked up Griffin’s fifth-year option in 2014, but when those were guaranteed for injury only, teams could bail free of charge the following year as long as the player passed a physical. Washington indeed released RG3 after his bubble-wrap season, when Kirk Cousins started throughout.

While this latest contract-related QB move could be interpreted as a tanking decision, that would be quite odd given Daboll and Schoen’s tenuous statuses. John Mara‘s votes of confidence preceded nothing but losses, and some around the league remain skeptical. Both the coach and GM’s jobs are likely on the line, with others around the NFL viewing it as closer to a 50-50 proposition the duo is retained, per Graziano colleague Jeremy Fowler.

Both leaders took over a rebuild situation, and Mara has hoped to avoid another quick dismissal. The New York owner fired Ben McAdoo during his second season and then canned Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge following theirs. Daboll has gone 8-19 since his 2022 Coach of the Year season. Schoen admitted (via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz) the better-than-expected 2022 season prompted him to make moves that did not serve the organization’s long-term interest. Jones’ extension, after the Giants declined his fifth-year option in 2022, would certainly top that list.

Mara gave Dave Gettleman four full seasons as GM; with Schoen delivering a 2022 playoff berth, this would be a quick hook. Still, Schoen’s actions during Hard Knocks‘ first offseason project did not portray him well, as Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney are having All-Pro-caliber seasons. Whether Daboll and Schoen are brought back may now come down to DeVito, representing how far the regime has fallen.

Giants To Start Tommy DeVito In Week 12

November 18th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants are using their bye week to make a change under center. Daniel Jones is headed to the bench, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The move marks another sign his tenure in New York is coming to an end this offseason.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds Tommy DeVito will take over starting duties in Jones’ place. His first game action will come in Week 12 against the Buccaneers with Drew Lock representing the team’s other quarterback option. It remains to be seen where Jones will now sit on the QB depth chart.

Lock missed time during the preseason after joining the Giants in free agency. DeVito, by contrast, is familiar with head coach Brian Daboll‘s scheme dating back to last season. The former UDFA made nine appearances and six starts in 2023, and he is now positioned to add to those totals as New York searches for an answer at the quarterback spot. Jones is now out of the picture for at least the time being and quite possibly the rest of the campaign.

Daboll has committed to Jones on a number of occasions, but the team’s loss against the Panthers resulted in a 2-8 record heading into the bye week. A change under center was deemed possible, meaning today’s news comes as little surprise. Jones remains attached to the four-year, $160MM pact he signed last offseason – one which allowed New York to apply the franchise tag to Saquon Barkley before his free agent departure this spring. That pact falls short of the top of the quarterback market, but Jones has not lived up to the expectations it generated.

No salary beyond this season is fully locked in for Jones, but he of course has a $23MM injury guarantee for 2025. Failing a physical would trigger that guarantee in March, so speculation has long pointed to a benching at some point during the campaign to protect against injury. That move will now be made as the Giants begin planning for another offseason driven by the pursuit of an upgrade under center.

New York attempted to trade up to No. 3 in April’s draft, something which would have allowed the team to select Drake Maye. Attempts on that front – which obviously did not sit well with Jones – were unsuccessful, leaving the 27-year-old in place to handle QB1 duties for 2024. Jones has fallen short of his career averages in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating this year, and those statistical showings (coupled with the health factor) left Daboll and Co. with a key decision to make. Now, attention will turn to Jones’ offseason outlook with respect to his future.

A post-June 1 release would result in $30.5MM in cap savings along with a dead money charge of $11.11MM, making such a move a financially feasible one on the Giants’ part. Lock is a pending free agent, and if DeVito delivers a strong showing he may not end up seeing any regular season action with New York. If Jones were to be cut and Lock were to depart on the open market, filling out the remainder of the QB depth chart would become a multi-step process for the Giants. The draft would no doubt once again be a target at that position, although this year’s class of passers is not held in particularly high regard.

DeVito, 26, posted a 3-3 record during his starts last year. His 8:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio was encouraging, but with an average of only 122 passing yards per game volume will be an area to watch this time around. A postseason run is not in the cards for New York, something which will lead to further speculation surrounding Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen‘s job security. For the time being, however, DeVito will take over on offense with the Jones era now over in all likelihood.

Brian Daboll’s Giants Future Tied To Daniel Jones Benching?

November 18th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have officially benched Daniel Jones in a move which has been anticipated given his struggles and the nature of his contract. With a 2025 injury guarantee looming, the former No. 6 pick is set to finish out the year on the sidelines.

Tommy DeVito is now atop the quarterback depth chart after he found himself in the same position midway through last year. He will aim to lead the Giants to a better showing than the 2-8 record which was posted with Jones at the helm, but in any case the team’s attention will turn to the process of finding a new long-term answer under center. It remains to be seen if New York’s braintrust will be in place to see it through.

Head coach Brian Daboll is believed to be “coaching for his job” over the remainder of the season, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen have received public praise from owner John Mara, although many around the league are unsure if that has truly ended the possibility of dismissals coming this offseason. Schoen, for his part, expressed an expectation he will be retained prior to Monday’s news of the quarterback change.

The move from Jones to DeVito has raised eyebrows for some given the fact that Drew Lock has spent the season as New York’s backup. The veteran signed a one-year, $5MM contract in free agency to replace Tyrod Taylor as a high-floor QB2 option in the event Jones were to suffer a repeat of his injury history or get benched in a move to prevent him from failing a physical this offseason. Lock missed time during the summer, though, which leaves him with far fewer reps in Daboll’s offense than DeVito.

Schultz notes the scrutiny Daboll is facing is one of the factors driving the decision to tap DeVito as the team’s signal-caller moving forward. The former UDFA went 3-3 as a starter last year, although he averaged only 6.2 yards per attempt and just over 122 passing yards per contest when on the field. If he replicates those figures, rebounding from the struggles of the early part of the season will be challenging for the Giants. While a poor finish in the win-loss column would be beneficial to New York’s draft slot, it would certainly not help Daboll’s chances of being retained.

The former Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs and Bills offensive coordinator took his first head coaching gig in 2022 with the Giants. Daboll helped guide the team to a surprising 9-7-1 record in his debut campaign, reaching the divisional round of the playoffs. Since the start of last season, however, the Giants sit at 8-19 and it is commonplace in the NFL for the arrival of a new quarterback to be accompanied by changes on the sidelines. With Jones seemingly on the way out and Lock a pending free agent, New York could need two new quarterbacks in 2025 with or without Daboll in the fold.

To little surprise, Schultz adds the relationship between Jones and the organization is viewed as “a bit awkward.” That owes in no small part to the well-documented efforts by the Giants to trade up to the No. 3 slot in April’s draft, a move which would have allowed for Drake Maye to be added as their future franchise passer. Jones made it clear he was not a fan of New York’s efforts to replace him, a process which is set to be repeated in 2025. Before free agency and/or the draft present themselves as avenues for moves to take place, a decision will need to be made on whether or not Daboll will be entrusted to oversee the development of any new passers.

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