Week 3 represents Jameis Winston’s first start of the season, and it will likely not be his last. The Giants are in line to add at least one veteran to their QB room, though.
A long list of free agents and potential trade targets has emerged in recent days. In the event a swap is to take place, Gardner Minshew could be a name to watch. The Cardinals passer is among those who are seen as options for New York, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Arizona wound up agreeing to a Jacoby Brissett raise after a lengthy contract stalemate this offseason. He is atop the depth chart as a result, although third-round rookie Carson Beck is seen as a candidate to take over at some point if the Cardinals attempt to evaluate his prospects as a future long-term starter. Minshew may not have a path to playing time with Arizona as a result. The 30-year-old was also identified as a logical Giants trade target during Sam Robinson’s latest Front Office Chat.
Minshew signed with Kansas City on a one-year deal this spring. His $2.98MM base salary would certainly by easy to move in a trade, since an acquiring team would only need to pay the prorated remainder of that figure at the time the deal were finalized. With 47 starts to his name, Minshew would qualify as an experienced insurance option behind Winston and surpass Jake Haener on the depth chart.
Free agency is of course a route the Giants are looking into as well. Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports confirms a signing is more likely than a trade in this case, something which could particularly point to Jimmy Garoppolo. The 12-year veteran contemplated retirement this offseason and remains unsigned, but he is open to playing in 2026. The Rapoport-Schefter-Garafolo report indicates New York has been in contact with Garoppolo’s camp in recent days, although no workout has taken place yet.
That could change shortly, and especially if the Giants pursue two signal-callers in the wake of Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury they could move quickly over the coming days. Garoppolo and Minshew will be among the names to monitor, depending on which route New York wins up taking.