The New York Giants have signed a veteran quarterback. Granted it may not be THE quarterback, but a quarterback nonetheless.
Jameis Winston and the Giants agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal late Friday night, likely ending New York's pursuit of at least Russell Wilson, and hopefully, ends the bizarre desire to pursue Aaron Rodgers. More on that in a minute.
Winston isn't a name that is going to excite fans, but it is the most logical fit for a franchise that is in transition, and will likely draft a quarterback in next month's NFL Draft.
After getting drafted first overall by Tampa Bay in the 2015 NFL Draft, Winston has put together a rather mediocre career. He can throw for tons of yards, and lots of touchdowns, he threw 33 for the Bucs in 2019, but he also throws a lot of interceptions. He also threw 30 picks in 2019 for Tampa.
Since his Bucs' days, Winston has been a solid back-up quarterback the past five seasons. He was servicable in New Orleans at the end of Drew Brees' tenure there, and was decent at times last year in Cleveland in a season where threw 13 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
In short, you get what you get from Winston. He'll play great some weeks, horrible others.
If the Giants play their cards right, this could work out great if they get the young signal caller they want in the draft.
All expectations are the Tennessee Titans will draft Cam Ward with the first overall pick, but even that is no slam dunk. If the Browns don't draft Shedeur Sanders second overall, he could be sitting there for the Giants.
The Giants have been linked to Sanders for a long time, even with all of the bad things scouts had to say about Sanders coming out of his combine interviews, he's still viewed as either the second best or third best quarterback in this draft.
If the Browns, or whoever trades with Cleveland for the number 2 overall pick, takes Sanders, the Giants could try to trade down, get multiple picks and take the explosive Jaxon Dart later in the first round.
Either way, the Giants have to come away with a quarterback in this draft.
They passed on Jayden Daniels last season before Washington took him. If seeing Saquon Barkely light it up in the NFC East with Philadelphia was bad enough, seeing the young rookie quarterback they should have taken last year light it up in D.C. was just as bad.
Aaron Rodgers:
As for Rodgers, it appears it could be Pittsburgh Steelers or retirement at this point. The Vikings told him 'thanks, but no thanks,' and Rodgers met with the Steelers extensively on Friday. Both the Giants and Steelers have offers on the table, but if Rodgers is serious about winning now, he'd pick Pittsburgh over the Giants.
Russell Wilson:
There are some who believe the signing of Winston doesn't preculde the Giants from pursuing Russell Wilson. That is IF Big Blue is not sold on the kids coming out of the draft. If that is true, then by all means sign Russell Wilson, who is a more reliable passer, even at age 36 than Jameis Winston. Signing Wilson would signal that the Giants believe they are close to winning (which they are not realistically). The only issue is having two veteran quarterbacks on the roster does nothing to cool off the pressure on this coach and GM unless they make the playoffs.
Wilson could also choose Cleveland, or perhaps Tennessee if those franchises also get cold feet on the 2025 rookie QB class.
We'll see.
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