Daniel Jones’ benching Monday all but guarantees that he won’t be the Giants quarterback in 2025.
So, who will be after Jones is likely released?
Here are the most likely candidates:
Cam Ward, Miami
The two-time transfer throws a nasty fastball and shows a steady path of development from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami. He makes the off-platform throws that Patrick Mahomes made all the rage.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Yes, he’s Deion Sanders’ son. But accuracy — not crazy athleticism — is the name of his game. He’s undersized to stand in the pocket, but tough as nails. What will his father’s role be in his future? A coach?
Carson Beck, Georgia
A consensus first-rounder when the season began, Beck’s stock plummeted as his interceptions mounted. Maybe he’s an option atop the second round. There’s also Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. From the top down, the Giants favor SEC prospects.
Sam Darnold, Vikings
The future is rookie J.J. McCarthy, whom the Giants passed over in 2024. Darnold is experiencing a Pro Bowl-caliber awakening and will command a big raise over his one-year, $10 million contact. Would the ex-Jet want to bring his past back to New York?
Justin Fields, Steelers
The Giants traded the pick that the Bears used to draft Fields in 2021 and wound up with Kadarius Toney and Evan Neal. He went 4-2 with five touchdowns passing and five rushing this season before he was replaced by a healthy Russell Wilson.
Jacoby Brissett, Patriots
Name that bridge quarterback. If not Brissett, then Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco or Marcus Mariota. But Giants head coach Brian Daboll was on the Patriots’ offensive staff when they drafted Brissett in 2016.
Kirk Cousins, Falcons
Maybe it’s a pipe dream. But the Giants’ regime could be under win-now pressure. Cousins has 2024 No. 8 overall draft pick Michael Penix Jr. breathing down his neck. The Falcons would have a $60 million dead salary-cap charge and Cousins has a no-trade clause.
Tommy DeVito, Giants
Wouldn’t that be a Cinderella story? Maybe the undrafted fan favorite plays so well over these final seven games that he stakes his claim as the starter — like the Giants’ version of Brock Purdy. All of a sudden, the salary-cap space would be flowing to build a team around him.
Carson Wentz, Chiefs
If the real Darnold is going to be too expensive, the Giants need to find next year’s Darnold. A journeyman who was highly regarded in the draft, has starting experience and is coming off of time as a backup learning under quarterback gurus (Sean McVay, Andy Reid).
