The New York Giants aren’t playing fan favorites with their final cuts to get down to a 53-man roster, but the decision to release popular backup quarterback Tommy DeVito could harm future starter and 2025 NFL draft first-round pick Jaxson Dart.
DeVito was widely expected to be for the chop after the Giants extensively restocked the depth chart at football’s most important position this offseason. The news DeVito’s fate had been officially sealed was reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on Tuesday, August 26.
DeVito was a great story as an undrafted free agent. He proved he can play. Went 3-5 as a starter. Has 8 TDs and 3 INTs in 12 career games.
He’ll have options.
Raanan noted DeVito will “have options,” a view shared by one of the passer’s now former Giants teammates. Yet, DeVito being cut loose has implications for Dart.
Those implications were hinted at by Raanan, when he pointed out “One underrated thing this summer about Tommy DeVito is that he became close with Jaxson Dart. The two are good friends. DeVito’s knowledge of the offense and experiences in NY helped mentoring the rookie.”
While it’s not a direct warning to the Giants, the underlying message is clear. Cutting DeVito has taken away a key voice and sounding board for Dart as he attempts to develop into the potential franchise QB1 under-pressure general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll need the rookie to become.
Raanan’s take also speaks to DeVito’s importance in the locker room, a not insignificant factor for a rebuilding team. His exit puts pressure on newly imported veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to quickly become emotional leaders, as well as on-field examples for Dart to follow.
Giants Made Obvious Tommy DeVito Call
DeVito was all but set to lose his place on the roster once it became clear the Giants would keep Winston. The latter is slated to be QB2 behind Wilson, but the decision to use premium draft capital to select Dart made Winston a possible trade candidate.
Any deal for Winston would surely have secured a spot among the 53 for DeVito, given the former undrafted free agent’s experience as a starter. The 27-year-old dubbed Tommy ‘Cutlets’ also established a cult following among the fanbase and sections of the media.
DeVito even performed ably this preseason, throwing a trio of touchdown passes to help beat the New England Patriots 42-10 in Week 3, but the Giants needed to be ruthless.
This offseason has been about completely overhauling their options at quarterback. About ensuring they don’t lose another campaign to the same issues that blighted Big Blue when Daniel Jones was the starter and DeVito and Drew Lock were in reserve.
It’s why Schoen traded back into Round 1 to get Dart, and while there’s some risk to cutting one of his friends loose, the Giants can still feel confident about his development.
Jaxson Dart Still on Right Track
Trading for Dart may have looked like a luxury after the signings of Winston and Wilson, but the Giants have rightly been praised for their foresight. Specifically, after the way Dart impressed so often during preseason.
Adding Dart to the mix showed Schoen has one eye on the future. It was a necessary precaution when Wilson’s 36, while 31-year-old Winston had become a career backup.
Both have the right experience to mentor Dart the right way, even if he’s already primed to surpass them in the pecking order. That won’t happen overnight, but the Giants have a coherent strategy at quarterback for the first time in too long.
The plan has no room for sentiment, so DeVito had to be shown the exit door, no matter how strong his chemistry with Dart had become.
Giants Have Jaxson Dart Problem After Tommy DeVito Release