Giants and quarterback Jameis
Winston agree to 2-year, $8 million deal, AP source says
[March 22, 2025]
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
Jameis Winston is ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple. And
maybe eat some wins for the New York Giants, too.
The 31-year-old quarterback agreed to terms with the Giants on a
two-year, $8 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told
The Associated Press on Friday night.
Winston joins Tommy DeVito as the only quarterbacks on the Giants’
roster. New York has been in the market in free agency for a
veteran, with Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco also
mentioned as possible targets.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the
team didn’t announce the deal. Fox Sports first reported that
Winston was joining the Giants, adding that the deal could be for as
much as $16 million with incentives.
“Start spreading the neWs,” Winston wrote on X, a play on his
infamous “Eat a W” pregame speech with Tampa Bay in 2017. He added
an apple emoji while appearing to confirm his Big Apple welcome.
New York’s quarterback situation has been unsettled this offseason,
with the only move at the position since free agency began last week
being the re-signing of DeVito. The team had interest in the Rams'
Matthew Stafford, who was given permission to explore trade options
but later agreed to a restructured contract with Los Angeles.
The Giants then appeared to be waiting on the 41-year-old Rodgers,
who spent the last two seasons with the Jets but was released on
March 13.
Rodgers, who hasn’t publicly said he’ll play a 21st NFL season, met
with Pittsburgh on Friday, according to another person with
knowledge of the situation — signaling an interest on both sides. He
spent several hours in the team’s facility gathering information,
but left without signing a contract. That person spoke to the AP on
condition of anonymity because the meeting was not made public.
Wilson, who spent last season in Pittsburgh, also remains a free
agent and his next move could be predicated on what Rodgers decides.
The Giants continued to explore their options and reportedly
recently met with Winston, Wilson and Flacco. They now have their
veteran in Winston to pair with DeVito — and also hold the No. 3
pick in the NFL draft next month. So, a top quarterback such as
Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders could still be in
play.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to pass during
an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dec. 15, 2024,
in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Winston played in 12 games last season for
Cleveland and started in seven after Deshaun Watson was injured,
throwing for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He
set a Browns record with 497 yards passing in Week 13 with four TDs
against Denver, but also had three interceptions — two of which were
returned for scores — in Cleveland's 41-32 loss.
He spent the previous four seasons in New Orleans primarily as a
backup.
Winston was the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 2015 draft
out of Florida State. He got off to a solid start to his NFL career,
finishing second in the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting
behind Rams running back Todd Gurley, and surpassed 4,000 yards
passing in each of his first two seasons. But he also struggled with
his consistency and interceptions in key moments became an issue.
Winston threw for a league-leading 5,109 yards and had 33 touchdowns
in 2019, but also led the NFL with a career-worst 30 interceptions
in his last season as the Buccaneers’ starter. He signed with the
Saints in 2020 to be Drew Brees’ backup and then re-signed the
following offseason the day after Brees announced his retirement.
He started seven games in 2021 before a torn ACL ended his season. A
back injury limited him the following season as he became the backup
to Andy Dalton. Winston again re-signed with the Saints in 2023,
serving as Derek Carr’s backup.
Winston has passed for 24,225 yards and 154 touchdowns with 111
interceptions in 10 NFL seasons.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi and AP Sports Writer Will Graves
contributed to this report.
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