The New York Giants have thrown a major curveball coming out of their Week 11 bye. Under pressure, quarterback Daniel Jones, whose $160 million contract once signaled a promising future, has been benched in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito.
Head coach Brian Daboll confirmed the move on Monday, explaining that the decision came after extensive tape reviews and discussions about the team’s direction. Jones, now relegated to third-string status, finds himself behind both DeVito and backup Drew Lock, despite Lock signing a $5 million deal earlier this season.
Tommy DeVito’s Agent Couldn’t Have Been More Confident About the QB’s Readiness
DeVito’s agent, Sean Stellato, couldn’t help but rave about the latest opportunity for his client. Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show, Stellato confidently declared, “Tommy is ready. He’s a different animal than he was 12 months ago. He’s prepared his whole life for this moment… He loves his coach, his teammates, and his fans. We’re fortunate for this opportunity.”
"Tommy is ready… He's a different animal than he was twelve months ago." @seanstellato on Tommy DeVito being named the starter for the New York Giants.
WATCH: https://t.co/T7IK21WgSv pic.twitter.com/OtWeZtfUP0
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) November 19, 2024
The undrafted quarterback has indeed shown flashes of promise, impressing during preseason action and earning praise for his offseason development. However, skeptics believe the decision to start DeVito is less about performance and more about the Giants’ long-term strategy.
Critics, including former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, see the benching as a blatant tanking move. “Tell me you’re tanking without telling me you’re tanking,” Daniel remarked on FS1’s The Facility.
“You bench Daniel Jones to dodge his $23 million injury guarantee for next year, but then go with DeVito over Drew Lock, who’s been dressing as the backup all season? That makes no sense unless you’re tanking for someone like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.”
Tell me your tanking, without telling me your tanking….
Welcome to New York, Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
pic.twitter.com/dPY6thOdQr— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) November 18, 2024
Ward is an interesting name. In fact, in Pro Football Network’s most recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Ward was the pick at second overall for the Giants.
“2025 marks the first time since signing his contract that the Giants can move on without incurring an unmanageable cap liability. 2024 marks the clear end for Daniel Jones, as it’s indisputable that there’s nothing left to develop with him; the project is over, and they clearly didn’t pass the grade.
Ward has five full seasons of college football starting experience at quarterback, never falling below 60% passing or below a 2:1 TD ratio, often performing much better in both. He’s been excelling during the 2025 season and is a huge part of Miami’s resurgence,” PFN wrote.
Tanking is a sentiment shared by many who see the Giants’ turbulent season as a calculated attempt to position themselves for a high draft pick. As for DeVito, this is a golden chance to prove himself as more than just a placeholder.
While the Giants’ 2024 season seems all but lost, DeVito’s performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could set the tone for his future in New York. As Stellato put it, “The goal is to win football games and be employed there for a long time.”
The Giants face criticism and uncertain futures for both Jones and the franchise. But all eyes will be on DeVito as he takes the reins in the Big Apple against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It’s all in DeVito’s hands to either silence the doubters or prove the tanking theorists right.
Either way, it’s a gamble for a franchise desperate to regain its footing.