If you can beat 'em, join 'em, right? That's not exactly how the saying goes. However, it's the situation quarterback Tommy DeVito suddenly finds himself in, landing with the New England Patriots just days after torching them.
The Patriots have reportedly used the NFL's No. 4 waiver priority to claim DeVito, per Mike Reiss of ESPN. They saw him dismantle their defense in a blowout preseason finale loss to the New York Giants and said "gimme that." He gives New England a stealthily intriguing third signal-caller on its depth chart behind starter Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs.
News story: Patriots awarded QB Tommy DeVito on waivers as they bolster roster at "premium position" ... while WR Kendrick Bourne will be released.https://t.co/4oIi5Ykl58
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 27, 2025
Patriots are early waiver winners after successfully claiming ex-Giants QB Tommy DeVito
Devito completed 17-of-20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the tune-up clash against the Patriots. He went out with a bang in what will go down as his final game with the Giants, posting an absurdly good 147.5 passer rating. The 27-year-old punctuated a strong summer of exhibition football with a strong outing, showcasing his tangible upside, which shouldn't come as much of shock.
We've seen DeVito keep the ship afloat when called upon, which feels like an especially vital need for the Pats. Maye suffered at least one and likely two known concussions as a rookie and was evaluated for head injuries in multiple contests. The latter's rushing ability and dual-threat prowess is a needle-mover, though it also makes him more susceptible to injury.
Across 12 games (eight starts) with the Giants, DeVito recorded a 65.3 completion rate for 1,358 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He also demonstrated some mobility, turning 36 carries into 195 yards and a score as a rookie. His egregiously high career sack percentage (16.23) is more than twice the league average in 2024, which is a concerning development the Pats must address.
Nonetheless, DeVito supplant Doubs as Maye's primary understudy in Foxborough is well within the range of outcomes. Intel suggests that the Pats have been waiting for an opportunity to snag "Tommy Cutlets" from the Giants since 2023. Now, they finally got their guy, who could prove to be a necessary addition (ideally, for the New England faithful, that isn't the case).
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted that the Pats "did some homework" on DeVito before the 53-man roster deadline on Aug. 26. They even called New York about the undrafted passer before he was cut. Moreover, Giants beat writer Art Stapleton cited a story about how legendary ex-New England head coach Bill Belichick courted him in 2023. In other words, this has been a long time coming.