The New York Giants don’t just need a new starting quarterback. They need a new quarterback room.
Rather than hyperbole for an awful year of passing, that’s simply the task ahead of the Giants after cutting starter Daniel Jones in the middle of the season and handing Drew Lock a one-year deal, the depth chart is vacant. Tommy DeVito, as an exclusive rights free agent, will likely be brought back for the same third-string role he held in 2024.
But New York will acquire a quarterback before the NFL Draft and, if the teams ahead of them are willing, during it, too. The team can’t afford to enter April without some level of starting-quality play at quarterback.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson
© Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
As such, a bold free agency rumor paired the Giants with bridge quarterback Justin Fields in CBS Sports’ list of best fits.
“The Giants could score a quarterback at No. 3 overall in the draft, but two QB-needy teams in the Titans and Browns are above them in the order,” Jordan Dajani wrote. “Maybe the Giants could give Fields a chance and then draft Travis Hunter in April. Fields' dual-threat ability is a plus, and he played some of his best football in 2024 with the Steelers. He's ready for another chance to be a starter, and will come cheaper than Sam Darnold.”
Fields got a right-tail outcome for his 2024 season, even if it was abruptly and unceremoniously cut short by head coach Mike Tomlin.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were 4-2 with Fields under center, and he’d shown legitimate signs of development. His completion percentage (65.8), interception percentage (0.6), adjusted net yards per attempt (5.86), and passer rating (93.3) were all career-best marks after an unsteady three seasons with the Chicago Bears.
It goes without saying that his athleticism is the driving force in his skill set, as evidenced by the Steelers’ choice to use him as a package player in the games he did not start. He proved useful in the red zone and in clock management situations but should open the playbook fully to commit to the quarterback run game – something Russell Wilson couldn’t do.
Whether he’s in the role of bridge quarterback or high-level backup, Fields deserves a second contract somewhere. Don’t expect it to come with the type of limbo he was forced to endure in 2024 – no matter how gracefully he seemed to take it.
The Giants may not be able to afford him the assurances of a full-year starting role, but if Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward isn’t available at No. 3, Fields could get the green light to throw to both Malik Nabers and perhaps Hunter.
Doing so with a strong offensive play-caller and somewhat promising developments up front and on the ground only make Fields’ ability to parlay 2025 into a separate starting gig even greater.
