The New York Giants are in good hands with Jameis Winston as their backup quarterback. The question is whether that leaves them more confident in their No. 2 than any other team in the league.
ESPN’s Seth Walder ranked Winston sixth among all 32 backup quarterbacks for the 2026 season.
Winston is well into the second phase of his career as a high-end backup. His results have been solid in aggregate, though his play style ensures a roller-coaster ride. Over the past four seasons, Winston has recorded a very high 3.9% turnover rate but still managed a 49.7 QBR in that span. This is because he's willing to push the ball downfield. Winston's 9.6 air yards per attempt since 2022 is higher than any qualifying quarterback registered last season.
Winston
has a history of high-level production despite his turnover-prone style. He has thrown for more than 4,000 yards three times in his career, including a 5,109-yard season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.
Last season with the Giants, he threw for 567 yards and two touchdowns across three games, two of which he started. His willingness to push the ball downfield and his big arm remain his strongest attributes, and his readiness to step in for starter Jaxson Dart is rock solid.
Winston is still capable of throwing for 4,000 yards over a full 17-game season, making him one of the elite backup quarterbacks in the league.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Where does New York Giants' Jameis Winston rank among NFL backups?
