4 potential backup quarterback options for the Giants
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones during a preseason game last month. Credit: AP/David Becker
Here are some experienced quarterbacks the Giants should keep an eye on if Jameis Winston can’t cut it on Sunday:
MAC JONES
The former Patriots starter is now the backup for the 49ers and went 5-3 filling in for Brock Purdy last season. San Francisco probably will not want to give him up — they seem to have a good thing going and he is a strong insurance policy should Purdy go down again —but if a team is desperate enough to fork over enough capital, he could be had.
JIMMY GAROPPOLO
At 34, Garoppolo, a former Super Bowl quarterback, hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2022, although he did start six games for the Raiders in 2023. What he has done is spend the last two years with the Rams backing up Matthew Stafford. And, despite considering retirement this offseason, he has made it clear he still wants to play.
J.J. MCCARTHY
At the very least McCarthy can commiserate with Dart about torn menisci. That’s the injury that derailed his rookie season with the Vikings. Now he’s a third-stringer in Minnesota where he could probably be pried away for a cheap price. Of course the Giants had a chance to take McCarthy in the 2024 draft and passed (they picked Malik Nabers sixth overall). What’s changed? Probably not much. But McCarthy does have one endorsement that could carry weight: He won a national championship at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh and likely comes with that seal of approval.
JOE MILTON
The Cowboys’ third-string quarterback is currently on Dallas’ practice squad, which means he is just a phone call (and a contract offer) away. There is a chance the Cowboys could block the Giants by promoting him to their active roster. Milton brings some excitement to the field, as he showed in the preseason. He also has connections to John Harbaugh: prior to starring at Tennessee, he played at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, and his cousin is Anquan Boldin, who was on John Harbaugh’s Super Bowl-winning Ravens team.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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