Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart‘s electrifying training camp and preseason could create some fascinating options for general manager Joe Schoen and the New York Giants.
If Dart is as close to being able to play at as high a level as he has shown in the preseason, when games begin to count for real, not only might the clock be ticking on Russell Wilson‘s time as the starting quarterback but Jameis Winston‘s role as a veteran backup becomes redundant and he may be far more valuable as a trade chip.
Ahead of difficult decisions that come with trimming the roster and as the regular season approaches, CBS Sports NFL analyst Tyler Sullivan suggests the Giants could trade Winston to the Minnesota Vikings, pairing the veteran quarterback with Kevin O’Connell, one of the sport’s premier quarterback whisperers.
“Minnesota is about to hand the keys to the franchise over to 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy,” Sullivan writes for CBS. “And don’t have much behind him at the moment. Sam Howell is the top backup, but he’s put together a lackluster preseason which included completing just one of his five passes for 13 yards and an interception against New England. If the Vikings are nervous about their depth behind a first-year starter, Winston gives them someone who has 87 regular-season starts under his belt.”
With the Vikings, Winston would assume the role he initially signed to play with the Giants, as the veteran mentor and insurance policy for an inexperienced young quarterback.
Similarly, Minnesota reached the playoffs last season, boast one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses and have designs on contending in 2025 which makes having an experienced backup quarterback even more important should McCarthy struggle out of the chute or suffer another significant injury.
Dart’s impressive preseason might be enough to force the Giants to re-evaluate their own quarterback room, because the rookie’s production only tells part of the story.
“He’s made some plays and throws [during camp],” Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton told Heavy early in training camp. “But, more so, our system’s a lot. It’s a lot to learn. It’s a lot to operate. It’s a lot to mentally think about before the ball is even snapped, and he’s obviously learning that now.
In a league where quarterback depth is a premium, a trade sending Jameis Winston to Minnesota is one of those rare scenarios that makes perfect sense for both the Giants, with their rookie on the rise, and the Vikings, who need a reliable veteran behind their first-year starter.
Giants Rise (Slightly) in ESPN Preseason Power Rankings
Ishika Samant | Getty Brian Daboll reiterated the New York Giants’ plans for Russell Wilson to open the season as the starting quarterback.
Through two preseason games, Dart, and fellow first-round rookie, edge rusher Abdul Carter and some of the Giants’ offseason acquisitions have done enough to spark some tepid optimism in East Rutherford.
With the season opener looming on Sept. 7, the Giants rose two spots to No. 29 in ESPN’s preseason power rankings.
“The Giants went 6-11 in 2023 and 3-14 last season,” Jordan Raanan points out, for ESPN. “Drafting a promising young quarterback in Jaxson Dart is nice, but they must win games. It’s a results-oriented business, and owner John Mara wants to see progress and improved results this season. And that’s a big reason Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback to begin the season.”
It is clear that Daboll believes Wilson gives the Giants the best chance to win, at least early in the season. How long the veteran is able to stave off Dart or keep Daboll optimistic will be one of the more fascinating Giants storylines to watch this season.
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