It wasn’t all that long ago that the New York Giants were completely and totally lost in their search for a franchise quarterback. Coming off a 3-14 season, general manager Joe Schoen and then-head coach Brian Daboll had to pull out all the stops to end the exhausting quarterback carousel that’s plagued the team since Eli Manning retired in 2020.
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After passing on higher-priced free agents like Sam Darnold and Justin Fields, Schoen’s first move was signing 2015 No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8 million deal. The move was laughed at, dragged through the dirt, and was seen as a last-ditch effort from a franchise that looked more lost than ever.
Who's laughing now?
Sure, Winston’s addition hasn’t exactly translated to wins... yet, but his presence on the roster is bringing more value than fans might realize. He’s delivered some vintage Jameis moments, including a few electric trick plays, but more importantly, he’s been a massive asset in Jaxson Dart’s development as a rookie QB. And that relationship alone has proven to be invaluable and worth far more than the $8 million they signed him for.
Jameis Winston proving to be Giants’ smartest 2025 free-agent pickup
The 31-year-old has been every bit the locker room leader Big Blue was hoping for when they signed him. He’s the perfect backup. He’s good enough to play winning football, has one of the biggest locker room personalities in the league, and understands his role.
He’s basically turned into Dart’s right-hand guy and pseudo QB coach. They’re in the film room together constantly. He quizzes him, coaches him up between drives, and passes down lessons learned over his 11 seasons in the league.
Dart’s been on record calling him a blessing. The best part is it's not some awkward forced mentor-mentee dynamic either. Winston’s all in on helping the 22-year-old reach his full potential. The most glaring moment was when rookie running back Cam Skattebo went down, and Winston was right there to wrap his arm around him and help him refocus after watching his buddy's season end right in front of him. That's not nothing.
And to think this relationship almost didn't come to fruition due to roster malpractice. Just four days after inking the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, Schoen added to the quarterback room with 14-year veteran Russell Wilson, whom Daboll inexplicably instantly named the starter.
After starting the season 0-3, Wilson was rightfully stripped of his starting duties in favor of 2025's 25th overall pick. It's funny because Russ was also tabbed as a strong mentor at the time of his signing, but it's obvious that Dart gravitates more towards Winston.
Winston has started the past two games as the rookie signal-caller works through the concussion protocol, and his play has all but confirmed it should have just been Winston the whole time.
Wilson’s signing ultimately led to the departure of fan favorite Tommy DeVito, and in hindsight, it robbed Giants fans of what could’ve been the most exciting quarterback room the league has ever seen.
The best part is Jameis is under contract for another year, which means the Winston-Dart duo is just getting started. If Year 1 has proven anything, it’s that this pairing is something special, and Year 2 should only be even better.