The next step in Daniel Jones’ career is beginning to come into focus.
The 27-year-old veteran quarterback — who was released by the Giants on Friday and officially waived on Saturday — is expected to clear waivers Monday and have a new home on a one-year deal, sooner rather than later, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
No team is expected to claim the balance of Jones’ contract — $11,833,333 for this season, as well as the $23 million in injury guarantees for after this season.
If that turns out to be the case, as expected, it officially would allow Jones to sign with another team after 4 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
Sources told ESPN that Jones would prefer a playoff contender, rather than a quarterback-needy team out of contention.
Some contenders are likely to inquire about Jones, and it’s likely he will have a new team relatively quickly, according to the report.
Jones, who was the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, started 70 games over his rocky five-and-half seasons with the Giants.
The former Duke signal-caller’s highlight moment was when he led Big Blue to a 31-24 wild-card round win over the Vikings in the 2022-23 season, but the following week, they were pounded, 38-7, by the Eagles in the NFC divisional round.
The rest of Jones’ Giants tenure was full of losses, poor play and injuries.
“Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way,” Giants owner John Mara said in a statement on Friday of Jones, who was just 24-44-1 as the team’s starting quarterback.
Mara also said in the statement that the Giants and Jones “mutually agreed” that the move “would be best for him and for the team.”
The Giants informed Jones on Monday that they were benching him and it was only a matter of time before his tenure with the team would end.
That’s because Jones effectively was no longer on the depth chart because the Giants would not take any risk of an injury, with Tommy DeVito as their starter, Drew Lock as the backup and the newly signed Tim Boyle at third string.
Jones took individual reps in practice Thursday and even helped the squad when he played scout team safety during a walk-through, before asking to be released.
“They’re looking to change things up. That was what was communicated,” an emotional Jones said during his news conference on Thursday before being granted his release on Friday. “Definitely not happy about it. Not what you want to hear. All those emotions you have. We’re in a business where you’re expected to get results, and we weren’t doing it. Have got to accept it and understand.”
