New Giants Trade Rumors and J.J. McCarthy Link Leak as Jameis Winston Replaces Injured Jaxson Dart

The New York Giants are reportedly expected to add a veteran quarterback to the roster after Jaxson Dart was lost for the season due to a knee injury.

According to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer, league sources believe "it's a matter of when, not if, the Giants add another passer with starting experience, potentially as soon as Monday."

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Pelissero added that Giants general manager Joe Schoen has been "working the phones" in search of some insurance behind Jameis Winston, who is set to start while Dart is on the shelf.

Pelissero specifically mentioned Minnesota Vikings No. 3 quarterback J.J. McCarthy as an "intriguing" option, as the Giants scouted him ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, and McCarthy played collegiately at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, who is Giants head coach John Harbaugh's brother.

Selected 10th overall by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft, McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury and then made 10 starts last season.

Although he went 6-4, McCarthy completed just 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

As a result, the Vikings signed veteran quarterback Kyler Murray in free agency this past offseason and named him the starter during training camp. Minnesota also retained veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz, who is Murray's primary backup.

That makes McCarthy potentially expendable, and as noted by Pelissero, it wouldn't require the Giants to make a major financial commitment since there is only $3.775 million in guaranteed money in his contract for 2027.

Jonathan Jones of The Athletic spoke to multiple league sources about the Giants' quarterback situation with Dart out of action.

One source backed giving Winston a fair chance to secure the starting job, saying, "You have to give Jameis an opportunity with a full week to prep with plays he's comfortable with."

An anonymous NFC executive laid out the delicate situation the Giants will have to navigate if they do make a quarterback trade, saying, "If Jameis looks bad, they probably see what trades make sense. They're in a quandary of wanting someone who can still help them win now without creating conflict when Dart returns. If Jameis doesn't perform better, they may feel pressure to do something."

A source told Jones that Tennessee Titans backup Mitchell Trubisky and Pittsburgh Steelers backup Mason Rudolph could be options for the Giants "down the road," as could Chicago Bears No. 3 QB Case Keenum, provided Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent return to full health soon.

Other potential quarterback options mentioned by Pelissero include Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers, Spencer Rattler of the New Orleans Saints, Justin Fields of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Milton of the Dallas Cowboys and free-agent Jimmy Garoppolo.

Despite the obvious need for some depth regardless of how Winston performs, Jones wrote that he believes the Giants haven't made any "legitimate trade calls" yet.

Winston's first chance to solidify himself as the Giants' starter while Dart is out will come Sunday when New York hosts the Titans.