Tommy DeVito claimed by Patriots after being waived by Giants
Tommy DeVito joins the Patriots, the team he faced last Thursday. Credit: Ed Murray
It didn’t take Tommy DeVito long to find his next home. The former Giants quarterback is trading cutlets for clam chowder and cream pies.
DeVito was claimed on waivers by the Patriots on Wednesday after the Giants cut him Tuesday. He'll be the team’s third quarterback behind starter Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs.
A spot opened up on the Patriots' roster after they released quarterback Ben Woolridge last Friday. DeVito also faced the Patriots in the Giants’ preseason finale this month, where he played the entire second half and completed 17 of 20 passes for 198 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
“Just strengthening our roster, certainly at a premium position,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday.
It’s a chance he wouldn’t have had with the Giants. Since the spring, they were set with three quarterbacks — Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart — ahead of him on the depth chart.
DeVito was previously contacted by the Patriots in 2023 as an undrafted rookie free agent. He elected to sign with the Giants, then took advantage of his chance when he was thrust into the starting role after Daniel Jones tore his ACL.
DeVito lost his first start, then won three consecutive games and became a fan favorite. He finished his Giants tenure 3-5 as a starter, appearing in 12 games in two seasons.
“We would’ve loved to have him back,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen said. “He was claimed and we wish him nothing but the best.”
Schoen also said the Giants aren’t looking to add a practice-squad quarterback.
As for DeVito, his journey will continue down the Northeast Corridor to Foxboro, Massachusetts. But he’ll see his former team this winter, when the Patriots host the Giants in Week 13 on Dec. 1.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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