Giants' Top QB Options in 2025 NFL Draft, Free Agency After Benching Daniel Jones

It appears that the New York Giants are finally pulling the plug on quarterback and 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Giants are expected to replace the 27-year-old with Tommy DeVito.

Head coach Brian Daboll later confirmed that DeVito will start in a video conference with reporters.

New York can save $30.5 million by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, but $23 million of his 2025 salary is guaranteed for injury. Benching Jones now will help ensure that the Giants avoid the injury guarantee.

In general, though, benching Jones is about turning the page on a quarterback who was simply never good enough or consistent enough to be the face of the franchise. If Jones has indeed played his last down in New York, he finishes his Giants career with a 24-44-1 record and an 84.3 passer rating.

The Giants will rely on DeVito and/or Drew Lock for the rest of this season, but they'll certainly target a new QB of the future in 2025. There will be no shortage of options, and we'll examine the best ones here, based on past production, upside and availability.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has lost some of his luster since opening the year as one of the league's hottest signal-callers. He's become turnover-prone in recent weeks and still doesn't always appear to see the entire field.

However, Jones topped Bleacher Report's 2025 free agent big board after the trade deadline because he's a strong free-agent option at the game's most important position.

Under Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, Darnold has shown the most growth of his career. While the 2018 first-round pick didn't work out for the New York Jets or Carolina Panthers, he's been an above-average starter in Minnesota.

Even with 14 turnovers in 10 games, Darnold carries a passer rating of 100.0. He's thrown for 2,287 yards and 19 touchdowns, rushed for 166 yards and a score and posted an 8-2 record.

At only 27 years old, Darnold's best football may still be ahead of him.

Darnold should be viewed as a bit of a risk-reward option. He's an experienced signal-caller who could start right away, and his skill set would mesh with the offense Daboll ran with Josh Allen while serving as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator.

Of course, the fact that Darnold did flop when given starting opportunities with the Jets and Panthers can't be ignored. He'd be a solid fit if the Giants retain Daboll as their head coach or if they replace him with an offensive coach from the Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay trees.

To be clear, the Giants could make a run at current Pittsburgh Steelers starter Russell Wilson. With extremely strong play over the past few weeks, Wilson has reestablished himself as a quality starter and will command a lot of attention if he reaches the open market.

However, the Steelers may not be willing to let Wilson reach free agency. He's stabilized their quarterback position for the first time since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, and he has Pittsburgh looking like a title contender.

Wilson will also turn 36 later this month and isn't the best fit for a rebuilding Giants squad.

Justin Fields, however, could be viewed as more of a long-term solution. The 2021 first-round pick also reestablished himself with the Steelers this season, going 4-2 and posting a 93.9 passer rating while starting Pittsburgh's first six games.

The 25-year-old still isn't a finished product, but he's shown growth as a passer and remains an elite scrambler. A handful of NFL general managers—possibly including Joe Schoen—will likely view Fields as a more enticing option than what the 2025 draft class has to offer.

The question will be whether the Ohio State product can continue developing as a decision-maker and pocket passer. If the Giants believe that the best is yet to come with Fields, he'd be a strong fit.

Jones was at his best when Daboll utilized his dual-threat ability. Fields is a more explosive runner than Jones and may still carry a higher ceiling as a passer.

If the Giants commit to starting over with another rookie, Miami's Cam Ward might be their best option. The 22-year-old was the top-ranked quarterback prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's early 2025 draft board because of his arm talent and playmaking potential.

"Cam Ward is among the most gifted throwers in the NFL draft class," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "The combination of arm talent, mobility/athleticism, and accuracy is growing among NFL scouts."

As was the case with Allen when he entered the NFL, Ward's biggest red flag appears to be his risk-taking mentality. It took Allen a few years to figure out what he could and couldn't get away with at the NFL level, but Daboll helped him get there.

Presumably, Daboll could do the same with Ward, and there's plenty to love about the Hurricane's ceiling. Ward possesses good size (6'2", 223 lbs) for the position and enough arm talent to throw from multiple angles and hit all areas of the field.

Ward also has a strong command of the offense, both pre- and post-snap. While he doesn't often operate as a scrambler, he's more than mobile enough to buy time in the pocket and pick up yards with his legs.

Through 10 games this season, Ward has already thrown for 3,494 yards and 32 touchdowns. Though not viewed as much of a "sure thing" as Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels were this past year, Ward has the tools to be an elite NFL signal-caller.

If New York decides to go with a rookie QB and gets a crack at the top prospect in the draft, it'll likely be deciding between Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.

Sanders is a very different prospect than his Miami counterpart. He's a smaller quarterback at 6'1" and 198 pounds, and though mobile enough to buy time, he prefers to beat defenses with touch, accuracy and a high football IQ.

"He is capable of winning from clean pockets and out of structure," Parson wrote. "Sanders will pick defenses apart with his quick release and accuracy, especially if he's kept clean. He is a high-floor prospect with a good enough ceiling to buy into."

Sanders, who has thrown for 3,222 yards and 27 touchdowns behind a bad Buffaloes offensive line, is a high-floor prospect who would provide an instant spark to New York's offense.

While Daboll would likely have to remove designed QB runs from the playbook, Sanders' pre-snap recognition skills, field vision and ball placement would mesh well with New York's improved collection of pass-catchers.

Malik Nabers, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Theo Johnson and Darius Slayton have all had bright moments this season. They'd form the foundation of a very strong receiving corps if operating with a quarterback who can deliver the ball accurately and on time.

If the Giants want an elite distributor, Sanders is their best option.

If the Giants continue trending toward a top-five selection, the QB draft conversation should start and end with Ward and Sanders. However, there's no guarantee that New York will have a shot at either signal-caller.

The Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders would pick before the Giants as of now, and they could all be in the quarterback market.

Georgia's Carson Beck could be an option later in Round 1 or on Day 2. He's a bigger quarterback at 6'4" and 220 pounds, and he can win from the pocket often enough to develop into an above-average starter in the right situation.

"He is best suited for a team with a good supporting cast and rushing attack, alleviating the need for Beck to play hero ball or carry the offense," Parson wrote.

While the Bulldogs don't often use Beck on designed quarterback runs, he flashed his dual-threat ability during Saturday's win over Tennessee. He finished that game with 347 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 32 rushing yards and a rushing score.

Beck hasn't been as impressive this season as he was in 2023, but his NFL floor is high enough to consider drafting early. He's a solid option to consider if New York trades down on opening night or back into the bottom of Round 1.

LSU's Garrett Nussmeier is another QB prospect who should land on the second tier of New York's wish list. While the 22-year-old hasn't played at a consistently high level this season, he's been impressive when playing well.

Nussmeier landed in the first round of the B/R Scouting Department's post-trade deadline mock draft because of his upside.

"Nussmeier is an inexperienced prospect with great NFL talent," Parson said. "Plenty of 'NFL throws' can be seen on film, where he processes information well and anticipates throwing lanes."

While the 6-4 Tigers haven't fared well this season, Nussmeier has flashed enough to gain the attention of NFL scouts. One veteran scout told Bruce Feldman of The Athletic that Nussmeier has the potential to be the best quarterback in this draft class:

"If I were a GM, I would pick him over all these guys. He just needs to play a lot more. I think he's seeing things that he's never seen before."

There would be plenty of risk involved with taking a prospect who has only been a full-time starter for one season. The San Francisco 49ers infamously bet on the upside of Trey Lance despite his limited resume and got burned.

If the Giants do decide to take a flier on Nussmeier, they'd be wise to bring in a veteran bridge quarterback and allow the rookie to sit for most or all of his inaugural campaign.

There's no guarantee that the Giants will even target a quarterback in the first round. With no clear top prospect like Caleb Williams or Joe Burrow in the 2025 draft class, New York may opt to address other needs first.

In the B/R Scouting Department's mock draft, for example, the Giants were paired with LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell.

Should the Giants favor a "safe" pick in Round 1, they may come back for a quarterback like Alabama's Jalen Milroe. Though far from a polished passer, Milroe is an elite dual-threat in the mold of Josh Allen or Justin Fields.

"Milroe's outstanding blend of elite speed/athleticism, physically dense build, and a live arm fits the trend of today's quarterback archetypes," Parson wrote.

It would likely take a couple of years for Milroe to reach his ceiling as a pocket passer, though he has the size (6'2", 225 lbs), mobility and arm strength needed to thrive at the NFL level. He could potentially start early if New York is willing to tailor an offense to his skill set.

Daboll did exactly that early in Josh Allen's career, and he tried to do it with Jones. The question is whether New York would be patient in developing another run-first quarterback after watching Jones flop.

Of course, Milroe's status as an Alabama signal-caller may cause New York to view him much differently than Jones. One quarterback came from Duke—which isn't exactly known as a football powerhouse—while the other comes from the same program that delivered Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts to the NFL.

If the Giants do opt for a rookie-to-be-named, they'll need to have a veteran bridge quarterback on the roster. There's no guarantee that New York can land a signal-caller who will be Week 1 ready, and it's always wise to have insurance at the position.

There's also no guarantee that New York will be in a position to draft a quarterback it likes, a fate that befell the Raiders this past offseason.

The New England Patriots took this approach in the offseason by signing Jacoby Brissett before drafting Drake Maye. This allowed the rookie, who continues to improve with each game, to learn from the sideline for the first few weeks.

The Vikings took the same approach by adding Darnold, who they've needed following J.J. McCarthy's season-ending meniscus injury.

Brissett will be among the top bridge options available in the offseason, along with Andy Dalton, Taylor Heinicke, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. These are veterans who can be short-term starters and actually help young quarterbacks develop.

There's a non-zero chance that Devito and/or Lock show enough down the stretch this season to secure a bridge role in 2025.

The Giants could also take a flier on a failed first-round pick like Zach Wilson, Mac Jones or Trey Lance. Trading for Carolina's Bryce Young might also be an option, though the Panthers have appeared re-committed to the 2023 first overall pick in recent weeks.

Schefter reported back in September that many sources believed it was "only a matter of time" before Carolina would move Young, possibly in the 2025 offseson.

None of these younger quarterbacks would provide a dependable insurance policy, and none of them have flashed the upside of Darnold or Fields. However, New York could lean in that direction if it isn't in love with what the 2025 draft class has to offer.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a similar approach by signing Baker Mayfield in 2023, and he's become a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback for their franchise. Of course, Tampa didn't have a high first-round selection last April and never had a shot at Young, Anthony Richardson or C.J. Stroud.

Turning to Fields, Darnold or the 2025 draft while also adding an experienced veteran will probably be at the forefront of New York's QB plan. Expect all options to be on the proverbial table, though, now that Jones is out of the long-term picture.