The New York Giants have reportedly been working the phones to find another quarterback after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury. A trade with the Minnesota Vikings for third-year pro J.J. McCarthy arose, but why stop there?
McCarthy was on an uninspiring list of veterans who emerged as potential targets for the Giants, so his arrival isn't too surprising. He'll immediately slot in as the No. 2 option behind backup-turned-starter Jameis Winston, who has underperformed, to put it mildly. The former's shortcomings since entering the NFL and the latter's struggles make additional reinforcements worth considering, specifically Jake Browning.
Before the McCarthy move, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer said New York would "like to add one, possibly two" QBs. Browning, an unrestricted free agent, makes sense for several reasons.
J.J. McCarthy shouldn't prevent the Giants from pursuing Jake Browning
It's nice that the Giants don't need to attach assets to acquire Browning, as they did for McCarthy. An established connection with a prominent member of the club's offensive coaching staff, passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan, can't be overlooked either.
Most notably, however, Browning has proven capable of stepping in and being a serviceable, if not above-average, signal-caller, and he did so recently. The same can't be said for McCarthy or many of the other names who have come up.
Browning found himself in a similar situation with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. He replaced their franchise centerpiece, Joe Burrow, who was ruled out for the year with a right (throwing) wrist issue. Guess who was the squad's offensive coordinator back then, too: Callahan.
Cincinnati was 5-5 and chasing a playoff spot when Browning's number was called. While they ultimately didn't get the job done, he kept the ship afloat and gave them a legitimate chance. His 4-3 record in seven starts was enough for an above-.500 finish despite falling just short of a Wild Card bid in a competitive AFC.
Statistically, Browning was one of the NFL's most productive and efficient passers, showing the ability to operate at a high level for a prolonged stretch. His 1,868 passing yards from Weeks 12-18 only trailed Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott, and he was one of 11 players with double-digit touchdown passes (11).
Among 45 QBs with at least 50 dropbacks over that seven-game sample, Browning ranked highly in the following key categories:
- Fourth in completion percentage (71.5)
- Fourth in yards per attempt (8.19)
- Ninth in catchable throw rate (79.8 percent)
- 13th in passer rating (99.1)
Nevertheless, if Browning were even close to as effective as the might numbers suggest, he'd probably have a home by now. What gives?
Why is Jake Browning flying under the radar?
Many will point out that Browning benefited from an elite supporting cast. He threw to arguably the league's best wide receiver trio, headlined by standout playmaker Ja'Marr Chase. The circumstances are much different in New York, and it's fair to wonder how stronger/weaker weapons could alter our perception.
Moreover, Browning got a shot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason but failed to capitalize. An undrafted rookie free agent, Jalon Daniels, bested him for the squad's backup QB role. That's not a great look, to say the least.
Lastly, while Browning's first stint in Burrow's stead went well, the second time around in 2025 was a bit of a rocky ride. The ex-Bengal threw more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (six) in three winless starts.
Note: Metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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