Quarterback Daniel Jones will finish the 2024 NFL season with a new team. On November 22, the New York Giants announced they would honor Jones’ request to be released from their roster. Once he clears waivers, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jones will become a free agent.
Following the announcement, The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer listed the Miami Dolphins as one of the top six potential destinations for Jones. Iyer noted the Dolphins’ need for a reliable backup due to Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history, which has caused issues with backup quarterbacks Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley. Iyer suggested that Jones could benefit from Miami’s talented receivers and coach Mike McDaniel’s offensive system.
The Giants made the decision to release Jones just 18 months after signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract. His release will cost the Giants a $22.2 million dead cap hit in 2025.
This season, Jones played in 10 games, completing 63.3% of his passes with 6.1 yards per attempt. He threw 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Despite these statistics, Jones led the Giants to a 2-8 record in those games, and in his six seasons with the team, he has amassed $108 million in earnings.
Why Miami Might Be Interested in Daniel Jones
Jones will likely seek a team where he has a clear shot at starting. However, as Iyer pointed out, the Dolphins could be a sensible option for Jones. Tua Tagovailoa has been inconsistent, with a 3-3 record in six starts this season, and Miami has struggled in the games he hasn’t started, posting a 1-3 record.
Tagovailoa has a history of injuries, having missed 12 games in the past four seasons. The Dolphins could bring in Jones as insurance should Tagovailoa go down again. Despite Jones’ struggles this year, he would still represent an upgrade over Miami’s current backup options, Thompson and Huntley, who have combined for just 1 touchdown and an average of 5.7 yards per pass on 99 attempts in 2024.
Jones has averaged 6.5 yards per attempt throughout his career and led the Giants to a 24-44-1 record over six seasons. Notably, he guided the Giants to a playoff appearance in 2019 with a 9-6-1 record.
Other Experts Connecting Jones to the Dolphins
Iyer wasn’t the only analyst to mention Miami as a potential landing spot for Jones. Newsweek’s Noah Camras argued that it would be a logical choice for Miami, as Jones could provide strong backup support for the team’s playoff push. Camras also highlighted Jones’ dual-threat abilities as a good fit for McDaniel’s system, as Jones has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored 15 rushing touchdowns in his career.
Other pundits, including DraftKings’ Sean Barnard and Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson, also identified the Dolphins as a top destination for Jones. Barnard ranked Miami second on his list of potential suitors for Jones, while Camras placed them at third but called them his favorite option.
In addition to the Dolphins, Iyer mentioned the Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Minnesota Vikings as possible destinations for Jones. Iyer did not rank these teams but appeared to favor the Raiders and Colts. Other analysts, including Barnard, Robinson, and Camras, also suggested teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Jets as potential suitors for Jones.
