The New York Giants quarterback carousel spun for what felt like years this offseason, and for a while, it looked like they were going to blow it... again.
They poked around a Matthew Stafford trade. They played the waiting game with Aaron Rodgers. But the Los Angeles Rams never planned on letting Stafford go. And Rodgers is still doing his own thing as a free agent. They still had the No. 3 pick in the draft, but no direct plan for a franchise quarterback with two QB-needy teams in front of them—it looked dark. But Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen stayed course.
Then came Jameis Winston, signing a two-year, $8 million deal. It wasn’t exactly the splash fans were hoping for, but it was a start. A steady veteran who could keep things afloat, at the very least.
But it was Russell Wilson’s arrival a few days later finally gave the Giants a quarterback room worth talking about. It might not be long-term, but it’s stable. It’s functional. And most importantly, it has some real upside. It turns out Daboll did his homework and then some to ensure the G-Men got the right guy.
Brian Daboll believes Russell Wilson can unlock this offense
Head coach Brian Daboll spoke at the league meetings this week and offered a glimpse into what sold the staff on Wilson—and what fans can expect from the 36-year-old QB in 2025. It sounds like the Giants finally have something to build on. And you should trust him, he's watched over 7,500 plays of Russell Wilson—some might call it obsessive, others call it due diligence.
“He makes good decisions with the football,” Daboll told reporters. “He’s athletic. He’s a little bit older, so maybe not as athletic as 2013-14, but certainly has ability to use his legs, extend plays, great explosive plays, phenomenal deep ball thrower. Has created a bunch of explosive plays.”
Those traits have been completely absent from the Giants’ offense the last couple of seasons. But so has general offensive ineptitude. In 2024, the deep ball was practically extinct in New York. With Wilson, Daboll is clearly hoping that changes.
“I would say we have some fast guys on the perimeter and we have some big, young tight ends that can get down the seam,” Daboll said. “Where that goes from here, we’ve got to get together and put together something that’s good for everybody. Look forward to seeing Malik [Nabers] in his second year. Glad we got [Darius Slayton] back. Keep working with the other guys.”
There’s finally a clear plan forming. And whether Wilson starts all season or eventually gives way to a rookie QB, Daboll is attempting to find some of that Buffalo Bills-Josh Allen magic and tailor an offense around what his quarterbacks do well. It’s a far cry from whatever happened last year.
The Giants still need answers for the future. But for now, they’ve finally got something solid to work with in Russ.