The New York Giants made their first significant move in addressing the offseason’s top priority on Friday, signing veteran quarterback Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8 million deal.
Despite being a backup for the better part of the last five seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns following a half-decade as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starer, the 31-year-old is an immediate upgrade under center for a franchise that had been languishing at the position for the last two years.
Over his 10-year career, the former No. 1 pick boasts 17-game averages of 3,922 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions — far more production than Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, or Drew Lock had contributed.
For now, DeVito is still the No. 2 quarterback on the roster, but that is projected to change in a hurry.
Even with the Winston signing, multiple reports have suggested that the Giants are still not out of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes. The 41-year-old future Hall-of-Famer is believed to be deciding between Big Blue and the Pittsburgh Steelers after being released by the New York Jets.
If the Giants come away with Rodgers, Winston starts the offseason as the backup.
Potentially having two veteran passers on the roster still would not dissuade general manager Joe Schoen from using his No. 3 pick at next month’s NFL Draft to take a quarterback. New York is in play for one of the top two passing prospects in Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, though Ward is the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans.
The Browns, picking at No. 2, could use a quarterback as well with Deshaun Watson out for the 2025 season due to injury. However, if they were to sign one of the remaining veteran quarterbacks available, like Russell Wilson, that could improve the odds of Sanders falling to the Giants.
He would then enter a veteran quarterback room, which would allow him to adjust to life in the NFL slowly rather than being thrust under center and immediately tabbed as a franchise savior. It also buys Schoen a bit more time to build a roster that could be ready to compete once Sanders is ready to take the reins.
