The New York Giants signed Jameis Winston as a free agent this offseason, but then went on to sign Russell Wilson, who they’ve already named the starter, and trade up for Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With Winston poised to be the Giants’ third quarterback option, could they look to deal him with a team needing an affordable, capable backup option?
3 Potential Trade Destinations for Jameis Winston
Denver Broncos
When Jameis Winston played the best football of his career, it was in New Orleans, where Sean Payton was his head coach.
The 2021 Saints went 5-2 in games started by Winston, and he was poised for a career year, recording 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions before suffering a season-ending injury in his return to Tampa Bay to face his former team, the Buccaneers.
Winston could reunite with Payton as the backup in Denver and help mentor Bo Nix, who is coming off an impressive rookie season in which he led the Broncos to their first playoff berth since 2015.
The Broncos currently have Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger as their backup quarterbacks, which makes for decent quarterback depth, but Winston presents higher upside and a unique perspective as a former first-round pick himself.
Winston knows the offensive system and understands the expectations and ups and downs that inevitably come with being a young franchise quarterback in the NFL — and he’d be an ideal teammate to help Nix navigate them.
Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons last offseason that includes a $40 million cap hit in 2025, but he is now relegated to a backup role going forward after being benched for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. late last season.
The Falcons could save a lot of money if they could find a trade partner willing to take on a portion of the contract. But with free agency and the draft in the rearview mirror, most quarterback-needy teams have already sufficiently addressed the position, and potential trade partners for Atlanta are dwindling.
If the Falcons are able to move on from Cousins, they will be in the market for another veteran quarterback to fulfill his role as the veteran in the quarterback room and mentor to Penix.
Winston has shared high praise for Penix, and has even called him a future Super Bowl MVP during an appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Gruden Goes Long.”
The two have even worked out together in the offseason as a result of sharing the same trainer, and they’ve already built a strong relationship.
Before signing with the Giants in free agency, Winston actually expressed interest in signing with the Falcons to work alongside Penix. “Man, I’m not trying to be a back-up,” Winston told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter during Super Bowl media week. “But you know, I’ll go and serve my brother.”
Winston’s relationship with Penix, years of experience as a starter in the NFC South, and his bargain two-year, $8 million contract make him a trade option worth exploring for the Falcons.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston reuniting with the team that initially drafted him No. 1 overall in 2015 would be as blockbuster as a backup quarterback acquisition can get.
The Buccaneers, with five straight playoff appearances and four consecutive NFC South titles, have become perennial playoff contenders. After an aggressive offseason aimed at preparing for a Super Bowl push in the season ahead, Tampa Bay has a complete roster, except for one small but significant vulnerability: backup quarterback.
Baker Mayfield plays a tough, physical style of football and has battled injuries earlier in his career. If he were to go down, the Bucs would be forced to rely on Kyle Trask or Michael Pratt, neither of whom has a single NFL start under their belt. That’s a dangerous gamble for a team with championship aspirations.
Now entering his 11th NFL season, Winston offers a combination of starting experience and downfield arm talent that most backup quarterbacks simply don’t possess.
The Buccaneers understand his potential better than anyone — during his final season in Tampa Bay, Winston became one of just nine quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season, along with 33 touchdowns — but his league-high 30 interceptions ultimately captured all the headlines and prevented his otherwise impressive season from getting the recognition it deserved.
He still has a strong rapport with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who both had some of the most productive seasons of their careers with Winston throwing them the football.
Winston would bring valuable leadership, familiarity, and high-upside insurance as a backup behind Mayfield. A late-round pick swap would likely be enough to bring him back to Tampa, where he would be able to keep the offense afloat if disaster strikes.
