The New York Giants appear to be taking a big swing in their efforts to fill the quarterback vacancy created by Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury. There are reports that the Giants have interest in Jimmy Garoppolo, and there is a possibilty that interest could be reciprocated.
Among available practice squad and free-agent options the Giants would not have to trade for, going after Garoppolo is likely the biggest swing they could take. Unless they tried to talk Russell Wilson out of retirement, and that
would seem highly unlikely, Garoppolo is the most accomplished quarterback on the market.
Jimmy G., 34, was a second-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2014. He has appeared in 85 regular-season games, and has a 43-21 record in 64 career starts across 12 seasons. Garoppolo quarterbacked the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season, where the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Garoppolo spent the last two seasons backing up Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams. He played in three games last season, but did not throw a pass. In 2024, he played in just one game. In that game, he went 27 of 41 for 334 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception
Garoppolo elected free agency this past offseason. NFL Network insider Mike Garafolobelieves the Giants are one of the few teams Garoppolo would be interested in playing for.
Jameis Winston, with a freshly-minted two-year, $13 million contract extension that ties him to the Giants through the 2028 season, will be the Giants’ starter in Dart’s absence. Jake Haener, currently on the practice squad, is the only other quarterback currently under contract to the Giants.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that “all options are open” to supplement the quarterback position in Dart’s absence.
The Giants won’t be in a hurry to replace Winston. Trading for a quarterback at some point, though, is a possibility — especially if Winston is ineffective or gets injured. Considering the rash of injuries to quarterbacks over the first two weeks of the season, teams might be loathe to trade quarterback depth this early in the season.
So, the Giants want a veteran “been there and done that” option, Garoppolo might be their best bet right now.
