Shortly after the New York Giants reached an agreement with free-agent quarterback Jameis Winston, the NFL team did the same with free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson. Winston knew that was a possibility when he decided to join the Giants, who have overhauled their quarterback depth chart this offseason.
“My role was explained to me as there is an opportunity at the quarterback position that we’re looking forward to getting better at,” Winston said after signing his two-year, $8 million contract this week. “I signed up for that because I’m looking forward to getting better and being my very best self myself, so that’s how was it. I didn’t get a clean explanation of my role because I’ve played so many different roles already. I’ve played every role that the quarterback room has to offer, so I’m ready for anything. …
“Absolutely, I knew a free-agent signing was going to come or maybe even a draft pick was going to come. But that’s their business. My business is today, and today I have the privilege of finally becoming a Giant.”
Winston became a free agent after starting seven games for the Cleveland Browns in 2024. Wilson and Aaron Rodgers were the most decorated of this offseason’s free-agent quarterbacks. Rodgers remains unsigned after Brandon Allen, Kyle Allen, Jacoby Brissett, Sam Darnold, Joshua Dobbs, Sam Ehlinger, Justin Fields, Daniel Jones, Mac Jones, Gardner Minshew, Nick Mullens, Cooper Rush and Zach Wilson have joined Winston and Russell Wilson as quarterbacks finding new teams.
“With Aaron and Russ holding up the market for the beginning of the free agency, it was stuck,” Winston said. “It was tough. A lot of teams had committed to them, had their hopes and dreams of getting those two guys or other guys in the future.
“This team was one of the few teams that gave me an opportunity, that wanted to have me in, wanted me to see the building, wanted me to connect with coach (Brian) Daboll and just see what the Giants were all about.”
A football and baseball star at Hueytown High School, Winston entered the NFL as the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at Florida State. He served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback for the first five seasons of his career. He also has begun two seasons as the New Orleans Saints starter, only to have those opportunities affected by injuries. Last season, Winston stepped up for Cleveland after Deshaun Watson sustained a season-ending injury.
“My initial vision approaching this offseason was to find an opportunity that gave me either a starting role or bridge opportunity to be the starting quarterback,” Winston said, “and I believe this situation is a situation that it looks similar. Whether it’s a veteran quarterback that I have to compete with and help serve and help make better for this team or it’s a young quarterback who is coming in from college who I have to help get better, who I have to compete with and serve, this is the NFL.
“There is no -- in my job requirement at the quarterback position -- there is only one of us. In that job requirement, you have to be able to compete and be able to just be your very best self. Whoever is the best guy gets the job. That’s just how it works since I’ve been in the NFL, so when the Giants opportunity was there and those opportunities for being sure starters and sure bridge opportunities, when they weren’t as plentiful, I looked at this opportunity as a great one for me to be able to come in and have that starter-bridge opportunity in the future.”
New York holds the third selection in this month’s NFL Draft, the first of the Giants’ eight picks. Winston said he was ready to mentor a rookie if New York drafted a quarterback.
“One of the greatest experiences that I had in my NFL career was a chance to spend one year with Drew Brees,” Winston said, “and just pick his mind, watch his actions and just be immersed into being an NFL quarterback and seeing what it looks like to the highest degree. …
“So me having that experience, being in rooms with great veteran quarterbacks such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, being in rooms with now quarterbacks Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson last year, having the chance to mentor Dorian Thompson-Robinson when he had a chance to get back in his starting role with the Cleveland Browns. I’ve been able to learn so many different things from my time, my career, so catering to a young quarterback and serving them would be something that I would definitely take on with a great responsibility and cherish it.”
The Giants are undertaking a quarterback overhaul after winning nine games in the two seasons since going to the playoffs in 2022.
“I didn’t look at this team as a 3-14 team,” Winston said. “I looked at what was possible, and what I saw was possible is an offense that can execute efficiently and can be explosive. I saw a defense with an incredible front. And I saw this offseason them adding Paulson Adebo, Jevon Holland in the back end to create some noise to help that front get home. …
“So this team is looking for a complete paradigm shift. This team is looking to make a splash. And there is no better place to do it with no greater calling to do it than right here in New York City being a New York Football Giant.”
