The New York Giants officially announced the signing of free agent quarterback Jameis Winston on Monday.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and first pick in the 2015 draft agreed to terms with the Giants last week on a two-year, $8 million deal. He spoke the media after signing his contract.
Winston was signed right before the Giants decided to add another veteran to their quarterback room in Russell Wilson, who will be their starter this season. None of that seemed to phase Winston, who appeared happy to be in East Rutherford.
"Yeah, absolutely, I knew a free agent signing was going to come or maybe even a draft pick was going to come," he said. "But that's their business. My business is today, and today I have the privilege of finally becoming a Giant."
Even if Winston, who intends to compete for the starting role, were put in the role of mentor, it's something he would willingly embrace.
"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. 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," he said.
"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 able to just 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."
As per the Giants' website, Winston "has played in 105 games with 87 starts for the Buccaneers (2015-19), Saints (2020-23), and Browns (2024). He has completed 1,944 passes out of 3,178 attempts (61.2 percent) for 24,225 yards and 154 touchdowns to 111 interceptions. He has also rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career."
Winston signed with the Giants because he likes what he sees in this roster and organization. He believes the Giants are closer to contention than people realize.
"It's required for this organization to start winning," he said. "So we can have more giggles, more laughter, more fun in this building. We're in the biggest city in the world and we should enjoy that and I think winning does that.
"So when to comes to looking at their record, I didn't look at this team as a 3-14 team. I looked at what was possible, and what I saw was possible is an offense that can execute efficiently and can be explosive. I saw a defense with an incredible front. And I saw this offseason them adding Paulson Adebo, Jevon Holland in the back end to create some noise to help that front get home.
"I just figured that the Giants, man, they don't look like a 3-14 ...
