Finally, after a protracted search that felt like it outlasted some geological epochs, the Giants have found their veteran quarterback for the 2025 season. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing …
Matthew Stafford!
Aaron Rodgers!
Russell Wilson.
Joe Flacco.
Eli Manning?
JOSH ALLEN (lol, jk).
Fan tryouts?
Jameis Winston!
Yes, to be clear, we are referring to that Jameis Winston — the one who threw a league-high 30 interceptions the last time he was a full-time starter in 2019. And yes, to be even clearer, Winston wasn’t the Giants’ Plan A at the sport’s most crucial position this offseason.
He was more like Plan G.
So we would discourage Giants fans from rushing out to purchase their officially licensed Winston jerseys. The 31-year-old veteran isn’t the quarterback of the future. He might not even be the quarterback of the present depending on what general manager Joe Schoen does in next month’s NFL Draft.
But, at this point, this is the best possible outcome — not convincing (begging?) a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to sign after leading the Jets to a 5-12 record last season, or committing to a multi-year contract with a washed-up Russell Wilson despite a bushel of red flags, or settling for another fading veteran like Audubon native Joe Flacco.
The Giants only have one path to find their next quarterback — and, really, that’s been the case from the moment they ripped off the bandaid and released Daniel Jones last season. Schoen needs to find one in the draft, whether it’s Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders or an unexpected college star that would be available much later than the No. 3 overall pick.
In the meantime, though?
Let the Jameis Epoch begin!
The Giants still won’t be very good with him under center, but they should be interesting again. He will, at the very least, be an upgrade over Jones, Tommy DeVito and the other lackluster passers who have wandered through East Rutherford since Eli Manning retired after the 2019 season.
Winston is also a character, the anti Jones from a personality standpoint. He’ll keep receiver Malik Nabers busy with downfield throws, and given that the Giants have been both bad and unwatchable over the past few seasons, some semblance of a competent passing attack would be a welcome sight.
But the key here is the contract. The Giants have signed Winston to a reported two-year, $8 million deal that could double in value with incentives. That is back-up quarterback money and chump change compared to what they would have had to give Rodgers or Wilson, which should leave them room to improve other areas of a team that went 3-14 last season.
Remember, Schoen was ready to trade valuable assets — likely a second-round pick or more — and commit $50 million to a 37-year-old Matthew Stafford this offseason in a win-now move that reeked of a GM trying to save his job. The former Super Bowl winner stayed in Los Angeles, a decision that might turn out to be the best thing that happened to this franchise this winter.
Winston does not bring with him any false hope that the Giants suddenly will become a contender.
“That’s obviously the No. 1 issue for us going into this offseason — to find our quarterback of the future,” Giants co-owner John Mara said after the season. “Whether that be draft or acquiring a veteran will be up to (Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll) to decide.”
They looked ready to make the wrong decision, and instead, the quarterbacks made it for them. Stafford didn’t want to flush the last few years of his career on a broken team. Neither does Rodgers, who visited Pittsburgh this week and reportedly might retire instead of playing here.
This saga might not be over for the Giants. Maybe Rodgers loves New Jersey so much after his two seasons with the Jets that he’ll pick the Giants in a few weeks. Maybe Schoen simply grabbed Wilson as a security blanket and will make a move for another veteran quarterback between now and training camp.
The GM’s track record with quarterback moves — or a lack thereof — doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that he will get this one right.
Winston is an entertaining placeholder. The Giants weren’t winning with Stafford, Rodgers, Wilson or anyone else they considered signing in free agency. They’ll have to draft and develop their next franchise quarterback. What could possibly go wrong?
MORE FROM STEVE POLITI:
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Steve Politi may be reached at [email protected].
