The New York Giants are sitting atop the NFC East at 4-2-1 and coming out of their bye week with a real shot at doing something they haven’t done since 2022: make the playoffs. And with the Nov. 10 trade deadline quickly approaching, general manager Joe Schoen has some decisions to make.
A lot of the speculation has been about who Big Blue could bring in, especially with the running back and defensive tackle groups needing some help. But what if the G-Men flipped one of their own players for some much-needed 2027 draft capital?
That’s where Jameis Winston comes in. And wouldn’t you know it, a certain AFC team with 18 years of John Harbaugh history might be desperate enough to come calling. Not Harbs potentially helping out his former team.
Ravens’ QB disaster could give Giants a chance to cash in on Jameis Winston
The Baltimore Ravens are in a pretty miserable spot after losing Lamar Jackson to a thumb injury that could end his season. Backup Tyler Huntley is also dealing with a toe injury, leaving undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano as their only current QB option heading into Thursday’s matchup against the 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars.
At 4-4, Baltimore still has a shot in a wide-open AFC playoff picture, especially with a defense that has more stars than the Milky Way Galaxy. But asking Fagnano to keep those playoff hopes alive feels like a borderline impossible order.
Enter Famous Jameis.
Winston is 2-1-1 as New York’s starter this season, completing 57% of his passes for 957 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. He took over after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury in Week 2 before getting benched in the fourth quarter against the Saints in Week 6.
J.J. McCarthy has since taken over, leading the Giants to a Week 7 win over Houston while completing 71.4% of his passes for 252 yards. It’s obviously a small sample size, but he’s looked every bit the former top-10 pick, which might be enough to make Winston expendable.
With New York already down to five picks in the 2027 Draft, getting another bite at the apple is practically mandatory for a draft pick merchant like Harbaugh.
I realize trading Winston after five encouraging McCarthy quarters might seem just a tad bit premature. The G-Men are leading the division, and having an experienced backup isn’t exactly a bad thing when you’re trying to make the playoffs (that's why they signed him in the first place).
But Jake Haener is still on the roster, and the 27-year-old showed enough in the preseason to at least warrant a look as QB2 if Winston gets moved. It’s a gamble, sure, but one worth considering if Baltimore is willing to offer something worthwhile.
Plus, how awkward would it be for Harbs to bench Winston, hand McCarthy the job, and then turn around and unbench Famous Jameis just a few weeks later if the 23-year-old struggles? That’s a conversation I’m sure he’d love to have and later explain to the media.
Winston’s two-year, $13 million extension signed this offseason could complicate things, and Baltimore might prefer a cheaper option. To each their own. But for a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations, banking on a fresh-off-the-couch Jimmy Garoppolo with nine games remaining might not fly (pun intended).
With the NFC East looking like the worst division in football, the Giants have a chance to think a little further ahead without necessarily waving goodbye to their playoff hopes. If Baltimore gets desperate enough to offer a draft pick for a guy who might never start another game in New York, it's worth seeing if they can prey on Baltimore's desperation.
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