Poor Drew Lock. The former second-round draft pick of the Broncos started 23 games through his first five seasons in the NFL. When he signed with the New York Giants in the offseason, it seemed like a smart move for the career backup. He knew Daniel Jones would be on a short leash, so he'd get a chance to start when Jones would inevitably get benched. So here we are in Week 12, and the Giants have declared an end to the Daniel Jones Era. But wait! Lock's best-laid plans have been foiled ... by Tommy DeVito?
That's right. The Giants announced Monday that Jones was out as the starter, but head coach Brian Daboll added that it would be third-stringer DeVito -- a.k.a. Tommy Cutlets -- who would now be the starter.
Ouch.
The Giants are 2-8 and currently in position to have the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Athlon Sports draft guru Luke Easterling has them taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward in his latest mock, two picks after the Titans grab Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.
So can the Giants' decision to start DeVito over Lock be viewed as tanking? Perhaps. The team denies it, of course. For a once-proud franchise that has made just one playoff appearance 2016 -- and really hasn't come close most of those seasons -- this might be a different kind of business decision. The thought might simply be that the colorful hometown kid gives them the best chance -- not to win, but to at least keep the fanbase engaged.
The Giants opened the week as 4-point home underdogs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When DeVito was announced as the starter, that line bumped up to 5.5. Seems a bit surprising that going from a veteran starter to an unheralded third-string quarterback would only move the line 1.5 points, but there it is. Call it another knock on Daniel Jones that Vegas thought the former first-rounder was only 1.5 points better than Tommy Cutlets.
For the record, three of Athlon Sports' five NFL experts have the Bucs as a best bet to cover this week against the Giants. Here are all the best bets:
Week 12 Best BetsLuke Easterling
(Season: 16-17)
Commanders -10.5 over Cowboys
Broncos -5.5 over Raiders
Chiefs -11 over Panthers
Doug Farrar
(Season: 24-8-1)
Lions -7.5 over Colts
Buccaneers -5.5 over Giants
Titans +8.5 at Texans
Kyle Wood
(Season: 20-13)
Broncos -5.5 over Raiders
Chargers +2.5 over Ravens
Buccaneers -5.5 over Giants
Andrew Perloff
(Season: 16-16-1)
Cardinals +1 over Seahawks
Broncos -5.5 over Raiders
Cowboys +10.5 over Commanders
Craig Ellenport
(Season: 18-14-1)
Lions -7.5 over Colts
Chiefs -11 over Panthers
Buccaneers -5.5 over Giants
Week 12 Sunday/Monday slate
Lions -7.5 at Colts
Chiefs -11 at Panthers
Vikings -3.5 at Bears
Cowboys +10.5 at Commanders
Buccaneers -5.5 at Giants
Patriots +7 at Dolphins
Titans +8.5 at Texans
Broncos -5.5 at Raiders
Cardinals +1 at Seahawks
49ers +2.5 at Packers
Eagles -2.5 at Rams
Ravens -2.5 at Chargers
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