The New York Giants just got hit with some brutal news: Jaxson Dart, their young quarterback, is out for the rest of the regular season. This comes after their Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, where his injury turned out way worse than anyone thought. A miracle playoff run is his only shot at playing again this year, and let’s be real, that’s not happening with Jameis Winston stepping in as the starting QB. But leave it to Stephen A. Smith on First Take to drop a completely different take on the Giants’ mess, urging them to ditch Winston and go after Shedeur Sanders from the Cleveland Browns.
The Giants’ QB Carousel: Winston Up, Dart Down, and a Hot Take from Stephen A.
So, Dart’s season is essentially done, which is a huge blow for the Giants. Winston, who just inked a two-year extension this offseason to be the backup, is now the guy for the rest of 2026. Yeah, Winston’s got the starting job, but Stephen A. Smith isn’t buying it. “Let me tell you something right now,” Smith declared on First Take Thursday morning, “If there was a possible way they could pull it out, I would tell the Giants to go and pursue Shedeur Sanders.” He’s clearly not a believer in Winston’s ability to turn this thing around, or he sees some serious upside in Sanders. Either way, Smith wants the Giants to go make a move for Sanders this season.
Why the Browns Might Be Ready to Deal, And Sanders’ Rocky Rookie Year
The Browns, interestingly enough, might actually be open to moving Sanders. Deshaun Watson played well in Week 2, and once Dillon Gabriel gets back from Injured Reserve, the Browns will have a quarterback surplus. They’re likely looking to deal one of their four QBs, with Sanders and Gabriel being the most probable candidates. For the Giants, who suddenly need more depth after losing Dart, adding someone with Sanders’ potential might not be the worst idea on paper. But here’s the kicker: Sanders’ rookie season in 2025 wasn’t exactly a highlight reel, even with a Pro Bowl nod. He went 3-4 in his seven starts, completing just 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions in eight games. Yikes.
Now, let’s compare that to Winston, who since the 2024 season has a 2-7 record with a 58.9 completion percentage, 2,799 passing yards, and a 15-15 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Those numbers? Yeah, they’re actually better than what Sanders put up in his rookie year. So, if the Giants were to actually trade for Sanders, they’d be spending “real draft capital” on what essentially amounts to an “upside backup option.” Plus, bringing in a young QB mid-season, expecting him to learn a whole new offense, could totally blow up in their face. This season for the Giants feels like a lost cause anyway, and with Dart still pegged as their QB of the future, there’s little real reason for them to make this kind of trade right now, no matter how much Stephen A. Smith wants them to. It would definitely grab headlines, but what would it actually *do* for them on the field this year? Probably not much.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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