Daniel Jones' benching on Monday all but guarantees he won't be the Giants' quarterback in 2025.
So who will be after Jones is released?
The most likely candidates are:
Cam Ward, Miami
His two transfers show he throws a mean fastball and has made steady progress from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami. He makes the off-the-rack throws that Patrick Mahomes made so popular.
Shedule Sanders, Colorado
Yes, he is Deion Sanders' son. But accuracy, not crazy athleticism, is the name of his game. He's small enough to fit in the pocket, but tough as nails. What is the future role of his father? coach?
Carson Beck, Georgia
A consensus first-round pick when the season began, Beck's stock plummeted as his interception numbers increased. He'll probably be a top second-round prospect. There's also Texas' Quinn Ewers and Alabama's Jalen Milroe. From top to bottom, the Giants are an SEC prospect.
Sam Darnold, Vikings
The future lies in rookie JJ McCarthy, who the Giants acquired in 2024. Darnold is experiencing a Pro Bowl-caliber awakening and will command a significant raise in his one-year, $10 million contract. Would the ex-jetter want to bring his past back to New York?
Justin Fields, Steelers
The Giants traded the pick the Bears used to draft Fields in 2021 to acquire Kadarius Toney and Evan Neal. This season, he went 4-2 with five touchdown passes and five rushing touchdowns before being replaced by a healthy Russell Wilson.
Jacoby Brissett, Patriots
Name that bridge quarterback. If not Brissett, it would be Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco, or Marcus Mariota. However, Giants head coach Brian Daboll was part of the Patriots' offensive staff when the Patriots drafted Brissett in 2016.
Kirk Cousins, Falcons
Maybe it's just a pipe dream. But the Giants regime may be under pressure to win now. Cousins is being squeezed out by Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft. The Falcons have a $60 million dead salary cap charge and Cousins has a no-trade clause.
Tommy DeVito, Giants
Isn't that a Cinderella story? Perhaps the undrafted fan favorite played so well in these last seven games that he staked his claim as a starter, like the Giants' version of Brock Purdy. Suddenly, salary cap space will flow to build a team around him.
Carson Wentz (Chiefs)
If the price of the real Darnold is too high, the Giants need to find Darnold next year. The highly-touted journeyman in the draft has starting experience, has learned under quarterback gurus (Sean McVay, Andy Reid), and is poised to serve as a backup.
