Signing Jameis Winston as a 2025 bridge quarterback would make the Giants‘ season interesting, at least, which would be an upgrade from 2024.
In all seriousness, while Winston wouldn’t provide the ideal solution by any means, there are a lot of reasons why he would make sense.
He has the talent of a former No. 1 overall quarterback. He would be cheap after carrying only a $1.2 million salary last season in Cleveland. And he would set a positive example for Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward if the Giants draft a quarterback in April.
Winston arrives daily to the facility before the sun comes up, as former Saints teammate Bennie Fowler vouched on the Talkin’ Ball with Pat Leonard podcast this past season.
The most important thing Winston would need to do, though, obviously, is play consistently well. And that is where Winston struggles most despite his talent.
He gave the Browns a badly needed shot in the arm by promptly beating the Baltimore Ravens, 29-24, when he replaced Deshaun Watson in late October, for example. Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns in one of the bigger upsets of the NFL season.
But then Winston threw 12 interceptions in Cleveland’s next six games, including three different games with three INTs. And by mid-December, he was benched for youngster Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Brian Daboll doesn’t have any hair to pull out, and he’s expected to give up play calling this season after John Mara suggested he do so. But those sideline tablets would not survive a couple of Winston three-interception games in East Rutherford, N.J.
Untimely turnovers were the part of Daniel Jones’ game that drove Daboll craziest. And it took the coach more than a week to get over Drew Lock’s costly giveaways in a December loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Winston is coming up as an option because of comments he has made this week in New Orleans.
Winston showed up at Super Bowl media night working for FOX and lobbed a question at Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley:
“I’m a free agent, I don’t really got no job,” Winston asked. “Who’s gonna sign me in free agency?”
Barkley responded: “I think New York needs a quarterback right now” and clarified he was speaking about his former team, the Giants.
Then Winston told NJ Advance Media: “Would I really sign with the Giants? Absolutely! I want to keep playing and do what I do best.”
When he was asked for his thoughts on the Giants’ roster and Daboll, he might have slipped when he referred to the Giants as “we.”
“I have a ton of respect for coach Brian Daboll, the things he does offensively,” Winston told NJ Advance Media. “I think we have a young — woah! They have a young roster. But they have a young roster that’s ready to win. They’re ready to bounce back. I know they’re hungry over there.”
Knowing Winston, that just as easily could have been a hilarious mistake made by one of the more entertaining personalities in football.
Winston is famous for ridiculous pre-game speeches and unpredictable on-field interview responses in a grateful and spirited tone.
And who wouldn’t want that around the Giants for a year? It might literally bring life to a building that was largely dead inside and void of any meaningful culture in 2024.
Winston’s willingness to push the ball downfield and take shots shouldn’t be overlooked, either.
Daboll showed limited creativity as a playcaller and lamented the Giants’ inability to get the ball down the field for explosive plays in the passing game.
GM Joe Schoen and Daboll obviously have to consider self-preservation with their quarterback decision here. So that’s how a trade for a player like Kirk Cousins, for example, could become the solution: if the Giants are pushing all their chips into 2025.
Do they want to make a big financial investment in a player like Cousins or Sam Darnold, though. Or do they simply want to sign a cheap veteran who can capably play NFL football until Sanders or Ward is ready — and add some juice in the process?
Because if they’re looking for the latter, they can find it in New Orleans this week — in the media room.
SLAYTON WINS NFLPA COMMUNITY AWARD
The NFL Players Association announced Giants receiver Darius Slayton as the recipient of the 2025 Alan Page Community Award at its annual Super Bowl press conference on Wednesday. In recognition, the NFLPA will donate $100,000 to Slayton’s Left-Hand Right-Hand (LHRH) Foundation.
“Winning this award means more than words can describe,” Slayton said. “The main goal for me and my family has always been to be able to give back to the people in our communities.
“It’s not about the recognition, but I accept this award with grace and humility,” he added. “I hope it brings further light to the causes my family and I support. I am extremely grateful to be named the 2025 Alan Page Community Award Winner.”