John Harbaugh doesn't rule out Giants trading for QB, but he might not like what's out there

The New York Giants have to rewrite their 2026 plan at quarterback. They're apparently open to any and all avenues for adding another one after starter Jaxson Dart 's season-ending knee surgery .

"We plan on [adding another QB], absolutely," Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. "Can't say who at this point. We're working on that."

Asked if that included possibly trading for a quarterback, Harbaugh said: "All options are open."

That means the phone lines are open. But Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen might not like what they hear on the other end.

Harbaugh also said he preferred a "veteran" quarterback, which presumably takes trading for a rookie off the table. Without knowing Harbaugh's defintion of "veteran," it seems fair to presume he means someone older and wiser.

Here's the bigger point: Harbaugh might not be able to be very picky right now. The pool of unemployed quarterbacks capable of potentially being a starter is shallow enough. The trade pool might not be deep enough to get your feet wet before they start thinning it out even more.

Why a trade feels unlikely, even with one tantalizing name

What the Giants saw out of Jameis Winston against the Rams was tough enough. He struggled, and it's part of the greater impetus to go get some help and possibly salvage the season. Keep that in mind when you consider that Winston is among the five best-paid backups in the league.

Who else are they going to get? Who's good enough to trade for but not good enough to start for his own team?

Quality backups are hard to find. The 49ers went 5-3 with Mac Jones after Brock Purdy got hurt, even beating the Rams in Los Angeles . The Texans went 3-0 with Davis Mills replacing an injured C.J. Stroud . Both of those teams made the playoffs. They'd have regretted giving away players who helped them get there.

That's why Jones might be untouchable, even if they're going to lose him in free agency. Better to get the compensatory-pick value later if the 49ers view themselves as contenders. The same might apply to Mills, the Saints' Spencer Rattler , or even the Vikings' Carson Wentz (don't worry, we'll get to the other guy).

The Colts' Anthony Richardson Sr. is a name you'll hear, but why? He'd be an interesting reclamation project, but Richardson hasn't played much in two years and might not be the "veteran" Harbaugh is thinking of. He's viewed more as a developmental piece than a plug-and-play option, even if his running skills could help uplift an offense.

The Raiders aren't trading Kirk Cousins at 2-0; they're still using him. And who's trading for any of the Falcons' QBs? No one. Could the Steelers decide to offload Mason Rudolph ? Sure. But giving up much for him feels foolish. Same goes for Gardner Minshew and others of that ilk. Though Harbaugh has a past with Tyler Huntley , the Baltimore backup probably isn't available.

That's why signing a street veteran feels more likely, such as Brandon Allen (who has strong connections with Giants QB coach Brian Callahan), Jimmy Garoppolo or even Josh Johnson , the ultimate hired gun when your starter goes down. That guy has been in every offensive system imaginable, once even playing college football for Jim Harbaugh almost 20 years ago.

Sign a guy, and if he stinks, you move on. You're already in the hole. No point in trading for someone who might not be great either.

The one name that might make sense, but buyer beware

Yes, there will be some who float the J.J. McCarthy idea, and it certainly can't be immediately waved away. It's admittedly the most interesting of the trade options, although there are reasons not to do it, too.

You can connect almost as many dots as you want there. The obvious need for a restart for McCarthy, who was a national champion in college not that long ago. The clear Harbaugh connection. The Giants brought McCarthy in for a pre-draft visit (before Harbaugh was there) and supposedly liked him.

The question is how much the Giants still like McCarthy now. And how much they could envision a player with 10 NFL starts — and passing numbers similar to Richardson — helping steady their team this season. There's still a long-term vision to think about here, but the Giants also need to win now, or there could be more changes.

The Vikings badly wanted McCarthy to take the job and run with it, and they couldn't in good conscience do it and live with the results they thought they'd get from him. Wentz might not have been part of the Vikings' starting competition, but he was the one to replace Kyler Murray (and lead them to a 2-0 start), not McCarthy.

There might be some sense in having McCarthy behind Winston and try to mold him as competition or insurance for Dart. But the idea of giving up anything significant for the Giants, who are already missing their 2027 fourth-round draft pick, is a tough one to embrace.

Giants fans might want to prepare themselves to not be underwhelmed when they consider the options to replace Dart, especially when it comes to a trade.