On Monday, the New York Giants introduced another of their new quarterbacks as Jameis Winston met the New York media.
The 31-year-old reportedly signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants. Last week, the team introduced quarterback Russell Wilson, who said he expects to be the team’s starter.
Winston, who spent the 2024 season in Cleveland, where he started seven games, is ready for whatever role the team gives him.
“My role was explained to me as there is an opportunity at the quarterback position that we’re looking forward to getting better at,” he said. “I signed up for that because I’m looking forward to getting better and being my very best self myself.
“So that’s how was it. I didn’t get a clean explanation of my role because I played so many different roles already. I’ve played every role that the quarterback room has to offer, so I’m ready for anything.”
The Giants have Wilson and could draft a quarterback with the third pick in this year’s draft. Going into free agency, Winston says he wanted to be a starter or a guy who could start and groom a young quarterback.
“Yeah, my initial vision approaching this offseason was to find an opportunity that gave me either a starting role or bridge opportunity to be the starting quarterback, and I believe this situation is a situation that it looks similar,” he said. “Whether it’s a veteran quarterback that I have to compete with and help serve and help make better for this team or it’s a young quarterback who is coming in from college who I have to help get better, who I have to compete with and serve, this is the NFL.
“There is no — in my job requirement at the quarterback position there is only one of us. In that job requirement, you have to be able to compete and be your very best self. Whoever is the best guy gets the job. That’s just how it works since I’ve been in the NFL.
“So when the Giants opportunity was there and those opportunities for being sure starters and sure bridge opportunities, when they weren’t as plentiful, I looked at this opportunity as a great one for me to be able to come in and have that starter-bridge opportunity in the future.”
Interestingly enough, Winston, who did some work for the NFL Network during the Super Bowl, asked Eagles running back Saquon Barkley about what team would be good for him, and Barkley said the New York Giants. Winston discussed that exchange.
“Like I said, I don’t believe in coincidences but when he threw the Giants out there, it really gave me and my team, hmm, what they doing over there? What is their vision?” he said.
“And to pursue the Giants and see. I’m not saying that I should sign Saquon as my agent, but what I am saying is he has good decisions. And obviously with him coming off the Super Bowl, his connection to the New York, I’m pretty sure the fans aren’t happy, but I’m pretty sure what he said about the fans enjoying me, I think that gave them a little bit more excitement.
“This free agency process is different every single year. With Aaron (Rodgers) and Russ holding up the market for the beginning of the free agency, it was stuck; it was tough. A lot of teams had committed to them. Had their hopes and dreams of getting those two guys or other guys in the future…
“I took that to heart, and I’m happy that Saquon put that energy in the air for me to come to the big city, to the Big Apple and be a G-man.”
Winston may have a shot to start in New York, and maybe there will be an open competition between Wilson and Winston, which should make for an interesting summer.
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