Veteran Newcomer #1: Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy decided to stay in the NFC East in 2020, leaving the division rival Washington Redskins to join Big Blue.
McCoy, a 10-year veteran, has switched teams three times in his NFL career since being taken in the 3rd round by the Browns in 2010. He has played for the Browns, 49ers, Redskins, and now joins the Giants for his 11th NFL season.
McCoy is one of the great quarterbacks in college football history. Colt won several awards such as the Maxwell, O’Brien, Unitas, and Manning Awards in 2009, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, 2-time 1st Team All-American, and Two Heisman Trophy finalists (runner up in 2008). Colt led the Longhorns to the National Championship in 2009 where they lost to Alabama and Texas has subsequently retired McCoy’s #12 jersey number in his honor.
Colt started one game last season against Joe Judge’s Patriots. He went 18/27 with 122 yards and one interception. Judge must’ve liked some of what he saw from McCoy as they gave him a deal to compete for a backup position for Daniel Jones.
Colt has been battle-tested his entire career. He started several games for the Browns in the early 2010s but never put it all together for a full, impressive NFL season.
At this point, McCoy can use his experience in the NFL and in big-time games to help give the team a good veteran presence. I expect McCoy to make the team’s final roster as either the gameday backup or he will be the team’s third quarterback that won’t dress for games.
Veteran Newcomer #2: Cooper Rush
Cooper Rush days in Dallas were over after the Cowboys signed Andy Dalton. The NY Giants quickly swooped in and claimed Rush off waivers after the draft to provide another intriguing backup option for the team after signing Colt McCoy.
Surely, ex-Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett orchestrated this move. He is now reunited with his backup quarterback from Dallas from the last three years. This is another positive, telling sign that Dave Gettleman is listening and working closely with the coaching staff and he is clearly hearing what they say.
Jason Garrett will be running the team’s offense in 2020 and he clearly liked what he had in Rush and made a concerted effort to bring him to the team. Rush will be another solid option to compete for the backup QB gig.
Rush went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2017 and signed with Dallas after the Draft. He used his draft status as motivation and he outworked his competition and made the team as a rookie.
Rush got better as the season went on and even got moved up to the #2 backup, taking over Kellen Moore’s backup duties and began his NFL career along the process. He saw his first regular-season game reps in 2017, during a blowout against the 49ers where he threw three passes and rushed for 13 yards.
Rush has shown much promise in the preseason every year, and he seems like a solid option to be one of the team’s backup quarterbacks. He will compete directly with Tanney and McCoy but he may have a leg up on his competition due to experience and familiarity in Garrett’s offensive system.
Rush could be a good asset for Daniel Jones to help him grasp and fully understand all the new terminology and concepts that Garrett will be implementing into the team’s offense.
I expect Rush to make the roster as either the second or third quarterback and will provide a learning bridge to help out Jason Garrett.