Giants make surprising quarterback decision, but one overlooked detail makes the move much easier to understand
New York locked up backup quarterback Jameis Winston with a two-year extension that signals the franchise’s commitment to Jaxson Dart.
The New York Giants have made an interesting quarterback decision, but when you look at the details, it actually makes sense for the future of the franchise. New York gave backup quarterback Jameis Winston a two-year, $13 million contract extension, and at first glance it may seem like an unnecessary move since Jaxson Dart is the franchise quarterback and Winston won’t be more than a backup.
Winston was already under contract for 2026 under a modest $4 million deal. But it makes sense to lock up a valuable backup like Winston has been for the Giants. He’s still fairly young for a veteran at 32 years old, and the contract remains cheap by backup quarterback standards.
It’s now a three-year deal in totality
Winston will make $6.5 million a year in new money. But since he’s making $4 million this year, it’s actually a three-year, $17 million contract and under $6 million a year ($5.6 million in real average per year). Winston was signed initially by the Giants last offseason under a two-year, $8 million contract, so this adjustment is fair for a player who has been valuable in the locker room. The news was first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Dart also benefits from the Giants’ decision
Winston is an invaluable part of the quarterback room to help a young starting quarterback like Dart to develop and learn a new system under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. That’s why the Giants ultimately decided to pull the trigger.
Winston was a surprising addition last offseason because the Giants ended up signing two veteran quarterbacks in Winston and Russell Wilson. Winston started two games and posted an 82.1 passer rating in 2025. While New York ended up parting ways with Wilson, who eventually retired from the NFL, keeping Winston under contract for more time made sense.
The Giants now have an established quarterback room with Dart as the starter and Winston as the veteran backup. Jake Haener is the third-string QB on the practice squad. Winston was the first overall pick back in 2015 and played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns before arriving in New York during the 2025 offseason.
