NFL

Giants’ best replacements for Jaxson Dart

Jameis Winston

This would be the simplest way for Harbaugh and the Giants to continue, just accepting the fact it will be a lost season with Dart going down so early. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft is 32 with a lot of experience and made a couple of starts for the Giants last season. That was in a different Brian Daboll offense, however.

The question is whether current coordinator Matt Nagy would be comfortable with Winston, who last had a winning run with the Saints in 2021. The good news is that Winston is a respected, familiar leader around whom the young Giants can rally.

MORE: What Jaxson Dart injury means for Jameis Winston, Giants offense

Gardner Minshew II

Minshew was in Kansas City last season when Nagy helped Andy Reid with the offensive scheming. He made only one start replacing Patrick Mahomes when the latter went down with his major knee injury, ceding to Chris Oladokun.

Oladokun is now in the Canadian Football League, going from KC to the B.C. Lions. Minshew, however, is in the middle of a Cardinals depth chart between returning starter Jacoby Brissett and promising rookie No. 3 Carson Beck. Arizona shouldn’t mind parting with Minshew for a late-round Giants pick.

Carson Wentz

Wentz filled in well when Kyler Murray was concussed in the latter’s first Vikings start in Week 1. He also helped win a battle of attrition against the Bears starting in Week 2. But Wentz is already back to the bench with Murray cleared to return in Week 3 at Tampa Bay.

The Vikings were happy that Wentz was their No. 2 instead of J.J. McCarthy to have a bit of a luxury. But they should listen to the Giants should they want Wentz to play for his seventh team since 2020. Before Minshew, Wentz was the Chiefs’ top veteran backup for Mahomes under Nagy in 2025. This would mark another natural system fit.

MORE: How slew of injuries changed Giants’ season on ‘MNF’ 

Mitchell Trubisky

Trubisky is the Titans’ veteran No. 2 quarterback behind struggling 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward. With Tennessee being thin, it might be more reluctant to give up Trubisky, given his connection with offensive coordinator Daboll goes back to Buffalo behind Josh Allen. But it’s notable that for a short period of time, Trubisky, the Bears’ No. 2 overall draft pick in 2017, played well under Nagy in Chicago.

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The Giants host Trubisky’s Titans in Week 3. They also can’t rule him out as an option, giving up a draft pick to a rebuilding Tennessee team. Like Winston, Trubisky is 32.

Andy Dalton

The Eagles have four quarterbacks on the roster with Dalton, Tanner McKee and promising developmental rookie Cole Payton behind Jalen Hurts. Dalton, 38 would be a free agent next season as the former Bengals starter tries to extend his run to seven teams. 

Dalton did spend some time with Nagy and the Bears when they were transitioning from Trubisky to Justin Fields. It didn’t work out so well, but nevertheless, Dalton did play in the system. He could be had for not much compensation to at worst be a new backup for Winston.

MORE: Breaking down the 2-0 and 0-2 teams

Justin Fields

The Giants should also think about some intriguing athletic options who can give them that part of Dart’s game that Winston cannot. Fields knows Nagy and is working in an adjacent system under Reid and Eric Bieniemy. Kansas City could flip Fields for more draft capital, depending how much it trusts rookie Garrett Nussmeier now to be Mahomes’ No. 2.

Oct 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) walks off the field after their win against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Anthony Richardson Sr.

This is the absolute wildcard trade option. Richardson, the disappointing No. 4 overall draft pick from 2023, wasn’t moved in the offseason by the Colts, who are about to be big sellers at 0-2. Riley Leonard didn’t inspire filling in for Daniel Jones last season, but he does have some experience as the No. 2.

Indianapolis has nothing to lose taking calls on Richardson at this point. The Giants, between Nagy and offensive assistant Greg Roman, who once got the best out of Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson as running quarterbacks, can give Richardson the reclamation support he needs.

The Giants have nothing to lose, either. Dart is their franchise quarterback when healthy. They won’t be expected to win much with Winston, anyway, given their defense has issues. It’s more likely they go a route such as Minshew or Dalton, but it would be a lot of fun to see what they can do calling plays for Richardson with some notable coaching and personnel support.

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