Jameis Winston’s 2024 campaign with the Browns looked more like a blooper reel than a resume. Seven starts, two wins, 13 picks, and enough second-half collapses to make Cleveland fans miss Jacoby Brissett. Still, he remained optimistic, hoping he’ll get another shot to prove himself to the HC and front office…“I’m praying for another opportunity to sling that pill – I can be a trustworthy quarterback. I think that’s the only thing I haven’t proven.” So he didn’t ask for a starting job. He just asked for one more chance. And the Giants heard Winston’s prayer.

They brought him in as a veteran insurance – someone who could stabilize the room while Jaxson Dart marinated on the bench. Not a savior, but a mentor. It all made sense…until Russell Wilson came on board. Fresh off a half-hearted rebound with the Steelers. Suddenly, the quarterback room looked less like a depth chart and more like a reality show. Four quarterbacks. One football. Zero patience.

Now, all signs apparently point to the Giants moving on from Jameis Winston, with trade buzz heating up as training camp begins. Guest-hosting The Rich Eisen Show, Andrew Siciliano laid it out clearly: “I think Jameis Winston could very well be traded to a contender that loses a quarterback or a good team that needs a better number two at the end of camp. You don’t need Jameis and Russell, and Jaxson Dart. That is one too many.” Translation: someone has to go, and it won’t be the rookie or the $10.5 million man. Winston is the odd man out.

This isn’t about Winston being bad. It’s about him being redundant. The Giants have a rookie they’re investing in, a star they’re paying big money to train their rookie, and a QB room that needs clarity. 

​​That’s why the Saints would be a logical option. They might be the only ones that actually make sense on paper and in the locker room. Jameis Winston spent four seasons in New Orleans from 2020 to 2023. He knows the building. He knows the system. Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News pitched the idea weeks ago after Derek Carr’s retirement: “A Winston trade to New Orleans makes a lot of sense, since his presence on this Giants roster does not.” He’s not the future. But for a team that still has weapons like Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, and a defense that’s been playoff-ready for three years running, Winston offers just enough firepower to keep the lights on. 

And let’s not pretend Jameis Winston didn’t have moments. Wins over the Ravens and Steelers last year were gritty, gutsy, and gave Cleveland a brief flicker of hope. The deep ball is still there. The charisma is intact. But the Giants aren’t building around charisma. They’re building around Dart. And the Winston insurance policy just got canceled – because Russell’s presence forced them to prioritize the future over the fallback.

Wilson’s hold on QB1 slips fast

When the Giants drafted Jaxson Dart 25th overall, it wasn’t just about talent – it was about timeline. Rookie contracts are cheap. Veteran contracts are not. And right now, Dart is cheap, mobile, and apparently cooking in camp. Bryant McFadden said it best: “Older vets really don’t get a lot of the reps in training camp… so for Jaxson Dart, you get the opportunities, you gotta take advantage of it.” And he is. Word around Giants camp is that the rookie is pushing hard for the Week 1 start.

Even Chris Simms didn’t flinch when asked about the QB battle: “If Jaxson Dart is phenomenal… I don’t think they’ll be scared to start him.” That’s where Russell Wilson’s dreams get shaky. The Giants’ front office may like his leadership and arm, but they love a hot rookie with a 100 SPS score. The same test Patrick Mahomes didn’t ace? Dart did. This is no longer about experience – it’s about upside. And right now, Dart is winning that race.

In less than four months, Jameis Winston went from hopeful mentor to trade bait. Russell Wilson went from face of the franchise to possibly a bridge to Week 6. And Jaxson Dart went from rookie hopeful to QB1-in-waiting. The Giants didn’t just shake up their depth chart – they flipped it upside down. And training camp hasn’t even started yet.