The New York Giants shocked the football world on Friday when they released former starting quarterback Daniel Jones. And pretty much everyone in football already has his next move planned out – starting for the Dallas Cowboys.
It was pretty much mere seconds after Jones’ release that Evan Cohen (subbing in for Mike Greenberg on his eponymous ESPN Radio show) suggested that very idea.
Of course, it helps the storylines and drama that the Cowboys just so happen to play the Giants on Thanksgiving six days from now. A game that is looking like being one of the worst Thanksgiving games in recent memory suddenly becomes a lot more interesting if the Cowboys could start the former franchise quarterback of their division rival a week after he was cut.
.@EvCoRadio thinks the Dallas Cowboys should sign Daniel Jones immediately. https://t.co/YZvXLdHMZG pic.twitter.com/HuetnBo1sb
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) November 22, 2024
Jones’ exit in New York came about rapidly. After signing a four year, $160 million contract in 2022, it looked like the Giants were committing to Daniel Jones as the future of their franchise. However, after the team let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency, that has appeared to be a big mistake.
But instead of waiting until the offseason to explore their options, the Giants demoted Jones and exiled him. He was reportedly playing scout team defense and all the way down on the fourth string. After the public humiliation, Jones asked for his release and it was granted.
So what better way for Jones to strike back at the Giants than signing for their biggest rival and beating them in the most-watched regular season game in the NFL? Everyone in the NFL media is willing for it to happen.
I don’t ask for much, universe. But this one is a big one.
Cowboys QB Daniel Jones v. the Giants on Thanksgiving. PLEASE. https://t.co/BlBQlb7q2g
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 22, 2024
#Cowboys should sign Daniel Jones.
Give him a week to learn offense before starting him … on Thanksgiving vs the #Giants #LetsGetWeird pic.twitter.com/Uy8Cpi4JxJ
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 22, 2024
Please let Daniel Jones start for the Cowboys on Thanksgiving
— Shaun Morash (@ShaunMorash) November 22, 2024
Daniel Jones next week playing QB for the Cowboys against the Giants on Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/4GYuE3JnPg
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) November 22, 2024
How realistic Jones signing for the Cowboys is at the moment is another question. Dallas doesn’t have anything to play for either and is starting Cooper Rush instead of seeing what they have in former Top 5 pick Trey Lance. Jerry Jones is always thinking of the box office numbers and surely he can see the headlines already being written with the revenge of Daniel Jones, but bringing in a new QB and having him play on a week notice is a tall order.
Alas, we can dream. If we’re going to watch two awful teams play in front of tens of millions of people on Thanksgiving Day we might as well have one interesting storyline to hold our interest and fight off a nap.
UPDATE: In an * I kid you not * moment, Jones is already listed on the Dallas Cowboys roster on their official website. Here’s the photographic proof. (H/T Marcus Mosher)
While the URL exists (along with Jones’ stats and everything) he can’t be found on the active roster page. So someone with the Cowboys has set this up as an elaborate prank, a prelude to a signing, or the fastest roster move in NFL history has already transpired.