In the offseason the Giants signed Jameis Winston, which looked like an intriguing landing spot for a team that had no quarterback. But not long after that they signed Russell Wilson, who they're paying a lot more money. That was weird.
Do you know why teams normally don't sign multiple capable veteran quarterbacks in the offseason? One reason is because you run into problems like the Giants seem to have created.
"I think the first thing that you want to pick out is that the leadership in the room will really help out everybody in the locker room and on the team," says Tyrone Tracy. "Obviously, you've got Russ, Mr. Unlimited. Then, you've got Jameis -- he's the one that has the personality. He can really connect with everybody on the football team."
Wilson is going to make $10.5 million this season. Winston is going to make $4 million. That suggests Wilson will open as the starter, but it sure sounds like if he struggles at all, a section of the locker room will be pushing for Winston to take over.
Winston's game would be a huge departure for what the Giants have been sending out in the Brian Daboll era. Over the past three seasons, Winston has started 10 games (I'm ditching one he was knocked out of) for the Saints and Browns. He's been about the most productive passer in the league in that timeframe. Wilson has been more similar to the modest passers the Giants have put on the field; Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock.
The table shows all quarterbacks to start at least half the time (26 games) over the past three years, plus Winston, sorted by passing yards per game.
| QBS PER GAME, 2022-2024, 20+ STARTS (AND WINSTON) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | St | PYd | TDP | Int | RYd | TDR | Pts |
| Jameis Winston | 10 | 289.6 | 1.60 | 1.70 | 9.7 | .10 | 23.3 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 49 | 272.7 | 1.92 | .76 | 21.5 | .12 | 24.3 |
| Joe Burrow | 43 | 272.1 | 2.16 | .63 | 12.7 | .16 | 24.6 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | 41 | 269.2 | 1.78 | .71 | 4.7 | .00 | 21.2 |
| Jared Goff | 51 | 267.5 | 1.88 | .61 | 2.9 | .06 | 21.7 |
| Kirk Cousins | 39 | 266.3 | 1.67 | .90 | 3.1 | .05 | 20.8 |
| Brock Purdy | 36 | 256.7 | 1.72 | .69 | 13.3 | .22 | 22.4 |
| Dak Prescott | 37 | 252.8 | 1.89 | .86 | 12.9 | .11 | 22.3 |
| Justin Herbert | 47 | 249.9 | 1.45 | .43 | 14.5 | .11 | 20.6 |
| Geno Smith | 49 | 249.5 | 1.45 | .71 | 16.2 | .08 | 20.5 |
| Josh Allen | 50 | 246.4 | 1.84 | .76 | 36.3 | .70 | 27.8 |
| Matthew Stafford | 40 | 245.4 | 1.35 | .68 | 2.9 | .03 | 18.2 |
| C.J. Stroud | 32 | 244.8 | 1.34 | .53 | 12.5 | .09 | 19.5 |
| Trevor Lawrence | 43 | 236.6 | 1.33 | .67 | 17.4 | .28 | 20.9 |
| Jordan Love | 32 | 235.9 | 1.78 | .69 | 10.3 | .16 | 21.2 |
| Baker Mayfield | 44 | 234.6 | 1.73 | .77 | 14.1 | .11 | 20.9 |
| Derek Carr | 42 | 227.3 | 1.52 | .64 | 5.1 | .02 | 18.3 |
| Lamar Jackson | 45 | 224.3 | 1.82 | .40 | 55.6 | .27 | 25.8 |
| Kyler Murray | 36 | 222.7 | 1.25 | .64 | 34.3 | .31 | 21.7 |
| Jalen Hurts | 47 | 222.6 | 1.34 | .55 | 42.4 | .89 | 26.2 |
| Russell Wilson | 41 | 221.4 | 1.41 | .59 | 18.9 | .20 | 19.9 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 35 | 216.9 | 1.54 | .66 | 5.7 | .03 | 18.0 |
| Mac Jones | 32 | 203.9 | .94 | .97 | 8.9 | .06 | 15.3 |
| Daniel Jones | 32 | 193.3 | .78 | .56 | 36.8 | .31 | 18.5 |
| Bryce Young | 28 | 186.6 | .93 | .68 | 17.6 | .21 | 16.2 |
| Justin Fields | 34 | 173.8 | 1.12 | .62 | 59.7 | .50 | 22.2 |
The Giants also have Tommy DeVito. I'm ignoring him. They traded up to draft Jaxson Dart in the first round. I don't think Dart is starting before December, if then.
Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, Tracy and whatever other skill guys the Giants put on the field will be part of more yards and touchdowns than they have been since Eli Manning was shoved into retirement -- if the team eventually goes with Winston at quarterback.
Sort of sounds like Tracy is interested in that.
--Andy Richardson