Cam Jordan Makes Plea for Giants' Backup Quarterback

The New York Giants took out an insurance policy by signing the league’s most volatile passer.

Signing before veteran Russell Wilson (who immediately jumped him on the depth chart), Winston temporarily held down the Giants’ quarterback job, providing an upgrade over Daniel Jones without a massive financial commitment. Now, he profiles as a competent backup quarterback.

Part of that job, though, will be mentoring first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart. Winston’s presence ensures that if Wilson goes down and Dart, entering a redshirt year, isn’t ready, he won’t have to play. That insulation is invaluable until the rookie is ready to play.

Once Dart gets the green light, that benefit disappears, and it could make him available on the trade block. He seemingly already has interest, at least from a former teammate.

New Orleans Saints star Cameron Jordan proposed a trade for the expendable Giants signing, suggesting a move for Winston on “Up and Adams.”

"I'm going to recruit a veteran quarterback properly when the time is right, and that's probably going to take all of the cap space we have," Jordan said. "Jameis...If I'm being non-biased, Jameis. There's (Russell Wilson) over there; they got Jaxson Dart. My guy Jameis, yeah. Come on down. It makes a lot of sense...I'm going all in, Jameis as a veteran QB, come on over."

To an extent, Winston can be moved. But doing that before Dart debuts would be a risk New York shouldn’t be willing to take. At this point, he’s not earning real draft capital in a trade, and the current regime has to survive 2025 before it looks further into the future.

The biggest impact Winston can make is between Sundays, when he can rub off on Dart. Even if Winston is a game-day inactive after Dart’s ascent, those intangible fingerprints can linger.

Jordan, clearly, enjoyed the time he shared with Winston. The veteran quarterback spent three seasons in New Orleans, winning six of his 10 starts and throwing for 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Perhaps the best stretch of his career came in his seven-game stint with the Saints in 2021. Going 5-2, Winston set career-highs in touchdown percentage, interception percentage, quarterback rating, and passer rating.

If New York needed another reason not to trade him, it is the schedule. The Giants will visit New Orleans in Week 5, and would much rather play an unproven rookie quarterback or a less-talented starter than Winston.