The New York Giants are adding a veteran quarterback. The team has agreed to terms with QB Jameis Winston, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It’s a two-year deal worth $8 million that could get up to $16 million with incentives.
The Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the two teams still pursuing QB Aaron Rodgers, who visited the Steelers today. Rodgers left without a deal, but the Giants moved to sign Winston.
New York had interest in QB Mason Rudolph before he signed with the Steelers, and while the timing is certainly interesting, signing Winston shouldn’t take the Giants out of the Rodgers pursuit. The team only had QB Tommy DeVito on their roster heading into today, and Winston provides another option as someone who started seven games for the Cleveland Browns last season.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero confirmed that the addition of Winston doesn’t take the Giants out of the pursuit for Rodgers. It gives them more options as they weigh what to do throughout free agency and the draft.
The problem for Jameis Winston is turnovers. He threw 12 interceptions last season and has 111 picks thrown for his career. That’s likely why he wasn’t an option for the Steelers, but he’ll have an opportunity to potentially start in New York if the Giants can’t land Rodgers. Either way, he’s a good backup and the Giants are giving themselves some insurance in the case they don’t land Rodgers, similar to what the Steelers did with Rudolph.
Winston’s signing also comes after he took a visit with the Giants earlier this week.
With Winston off the market, the number of available veteran quarterbacks continues to dwindle. If the Steelers miss out on Rodgers, they’ll likely look to sign a veteran, with Joe Flacco, Drew Lock and Tyler Huntley the best available options right now.
Prior to spending last season with the Browns, Winston also had stops with the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. A return to Cleveland was unlikely after the team acquired QB Kenny Pickett, but the Browns remain in the quarterback market and had a meeting with QB Russell Wilson last week.
Wilson also met with the Giants, and he could still be an option for the team if they don’t sign Rodgers.
