The New York Giants aren’t sitting idle while waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make his decision, adding another veteran arm to their quarterback room.
According to multiple reports, including Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Giants have secured former Pro Bowl quarterback Jameis Winston on a two-year, $8 million deal that could reach $16 million with incentives. Winston, entering his eleventh NFL season, spent 2024 with the Cleveland Browns where he posted a 2-5 record as a starter while completing 61.1% of his passes for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
BREAKING: The #Giants and QB Jameis Winston are finalizing a 2-year, $8M deal, which could be up to $16M with incentives, multiple sources tell @NFLonFOX. pic.twitter.com/kYiVfxgyEe
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 21, 2025
This move comes at an intriguing moment in the Rodgers sweepstakes, as the four-time MVP spent several hours visiting Steelers coaches at Pittsburgh’s practice facility. Rodgers finds himself a free agent for the first time in his storied career after the New York Jets released him following a disappointing 5-12 campaign.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler previously reported that Rodgers holds standing contract offers from both the Steelers and Giants.
With Winston now in the fold, are the Giants signaling they’re moving on from the Rodgers pursuit?
NFL insider clarifies Giants’ quarterback strategy
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Winston acquisition doesn’t close the door on the Giants’ interest in Rodgers.
“The #Giants had only one QB on the roster: Tommy DeVito. Now they add Jameis Winston on a backup deal, giving them options as their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers continues and they weigh what to do with the No. 3 overall pick,” Pelissero posted on X.
The #Giants had only one QB on the roster: Tommy DeVito. Now they add Jameis Winston on a backup deal, giving them options as their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers continues and they weigh what to do with the No. 3 overall pick. https://t.co/z7vt3NM27F
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 21, 2025
Despite the Jets’ struggles in 2024, Rodgers put up respectable numbers — nearly 4,000 yards passing and 28 touchdowns — but he’s clearly not the same dominant force of years past. At 41 years old and coming back from a serious Achilles injury, his mobility has diminished significantly. The evidence was clear: he absorbed 40 sacks in 2024 and posted a career-low 6.7 yards gained per pass attempt since becoming a starter. Beyond on-field concerns, Rodgers brings personality dynamics that could potentially disrupt locker room chemistry.
There’s little doubt the Giants will target a franchise quarterback in next month’s draft. The real question is whether they’ll pull the trigger with their No. 3 overall selection or exercise patience and wait until Day 2 to find their signal-caller of the future.
