With Jaxson Dart out until further notice with a knee injury, Jameis Winston will be under center for the Giants in Week 3 and presumably beyond. But if things go south with Winston as the starter, NFL insider Tom Pelissero can envision a few players Big Blue might pursue.
On Saturday, Pelissero shared a list of six quarterbacks that he sees as options for the Giants to make a trade for either as a more experienced backup behind Winston or even as a replacement. His list included 49ers QB Mac Jones, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, Saints QB Spencer Rattler, Chiefs QB Justin Fields, Cowboys QB Joe Milton and free agent QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
It’s worth noting that most of the players on the list have significant starter experience (except Milton). Fields, McCarthy, Rattler and Jones had multiple starts in 2025 alone before being relegated to backups this year.
Take a chance or ride with Winston?
Giants fans were a bit torn on whether to pursue any of those backup quarterbacks. Some feel that they might be better off just seeing if Winston can do the job himself, while others believe that should take a flyer on a trade:
“It’s gotta be Mac Jones if they’re serious,” one user remarked on X.
“I think Rattler deserves another chance,” wrote another.
“Rather go with Winston & the guys we currently have. None of these options help us in any way,” a third said dismissively.
“With Mac Jones, the Giants could potentially be more competitive than with Dart even.”
“Honestly I’d like to see what Joe Milton can do.”
“I think they stick with Jameis! He had a terrible showing last week which is expected! I think he shows up tomorrow and shock the world!”
Winston has started 12 games since 2022 and is 3-9 in those games. Against the Rams off the bench last week, he went 11 of 27 for 111 yards and an interception.
That individual performance certainly didn’t inspire confidence in fans but perhaps that was a by-product of not getting starter reps in preparation for one of the NFL’s better teams.
Sunday’s game will be against the Tennessee Titans, a team that in theory shouldn’t be as difficult to score against as the Rams.
If Winston struggles against them though, maybe the Giants will start checking in on the QB trade market in the weeks to come.
