With the trade deadline having come and gone, it is now known only one quarterback move (Joe Flacco to the Bengals) occurred. That leaves Jameis Winston in place to continue serving as the Giants’ third-string passer. 
The free agent addition has spent 2025 as New York’s emergency No. 3 quarterback. That situation did not change when Jaxson Dart took over starting duties from Russell Wilson. After the switch, many expected at least one of Wilson or Winston to be dealt. Instead, both are still in the fold and Winston (under contract through 2026) remains in the team’s plans beyond the second half of the current campaign.
The Giants did not receive calls about Winston in the days leading up to this week’s trade deadline, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports. Both of New York’s veteran signal-callers were on the radar of the Bengals before they ultimately traded for Flacco, but since then Winston had not been firmly linked to any suitors. As Raanan notes, the Giants would have been unlikely to accept any trade offers on the Winston front anyway.
“When a team gives me the opportunity and believes in me, they give me a job, I want to play for that team and do my best for that team,” Winston said when speaking about his commitment to New York. “I’m a solutions-oriented guy, so I want to be a part of the solution. I don’t just want to run away when things get bad.”
Wilson (briefly) handled starting duties at the start of the campaign, but given the team’s decision to turn to Dart it would come as no surprise if he departed on the open market this spring. That would leave Winston, 31, to handle QB2 duties for 2026. The former No. 1 pick signed a two-year, $8MM pact in free agency; a portion of his salary for next season is already guaranteed.
Dart’s development will be a critical storyline for the Giants down the stretch as they contemplate the futures of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Regardless of if one or both are still in place by the start of the 2026 campaign, Winston will be present as a veteran insurance policy under center.