The Giants must overhaul their quarterback plans for 2026 after starter Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed they’re intent on adding another QB and said all options, including trades, are being considered, though he prefers a veteran presence.
Reality may limit how picky they can be. The pool of experienced, starter-capable quarterbacks who are both available and affordable is small. The recent struggles of Jameis Winston — who’s among the highest-paid backups — underline why New York wants an upgrade, but finding a player who’s good enough to start yet expendable for his current team is difficult.
Teams that have leaned on backups this year, like the 49ers with Mac Jones or the Texans with Davis Mills, got meaningful production and playoff traction, so clubs are reluctant to part with reliable depth. That likely rules out trades for top backups who could still be valuable to their franchises, and leaves less appealing options as the market thins.
Names that circulate — Anthony Richardson, Kirk Cousins, Mason Rudolph, Gardner Minshew, Tyler Huntley and others — come with issues: injury history, limited recent play, roster fit, or simply being in use by their teams. Richardson, for example, is more of a developmental project than a short-term veteran solution. As a result, signing a seasoned free agent street veteran like Brandon Allen, Jimmy Garoppolo or the ever-ready Josh Johnson may be the most realistic route. Those signings are low-risk: if it doesn’t work, you move on without surrendering assets.
One trade target that draws attention is J.J. McCarthy, given his ties to the Harbaughs and prior interest from the Giants. He’s an intriguing long-term piece, but he has just 10 NFL starts with underwhelming passing numbers, and the Vikings clearly weren’t comfortable handing him the reins. Acquiring him would also be costly for a team that’s already lost a 2027 fourth-rounder, making a significant trade hard to justify for a squad that also needs to win now.
Bottom line: don’t expect a blockbuster acquisition. The Giants will likely try a low-cost veteran signing or a modest move rather than give up major assets for uncertain upside, so fans should brace for underwhelming short-term answers at quarterback.
Fan take: This matters because how the Giants respond will affect playoff races and the market for veteran QBs, showing whether teams prioritize immediate stopgaps or developmental upside. The decision could influence how other franchises value backup quarterbacks and trade assets moving forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
