ESPN analysts believe J.J. McCarthy could lead Giants to playoffs

After a season-ending injury to starter Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants have been forced into taking a fluid approach to their starting quarterback situation and are now turning to their third starter of the year. Just over three weeks after trading for J.J. McCarthy, New York is officially moving him to starter and benching Jameis Winston, who relieved Dart.

On Thursday’s episode of Get Up, Andrew Hawkins and Adam Schefter discussed what the move could mean not just for the Giants but for the rest of the NFC East as well.

“There’s no one who is sticking out in this division, no one who’s playing well,” Hawkins said. “When you look at even the quarterback play throughout the division, I remember when Harbaugh first came, and there was so much excitement around what he could bring to this organization and Jackson Dart and everything he can bring out of him.”

“If [J.J. McCarthy] plays the way he did in the 4th [quarter], [the Giants are] the favorites in the division.”

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@Hawk and @AdamSchefter make bold predictions for the NFC East following the Giants’ change in QB https://t.co/ijvn9Dj7IC

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 22, 2026

Hawkins went on to say that McCarthy producing could make the Giants the favorites in the division, which would put New York back in the playoffs.

“The conversation was still, well, he’s the fourth-best quarterback in the division. Well, now that we’re this part in the season, no quarterback has really stood out, right? The Giants had their issues and concern, but I would say everything around the quarterback position, obviously, because Jaxson Dart has been out for the New York Giants, has actually looked up a lot quicker than we expected from (tight end Isaiah Likely) of the world.

“Nabers looks like a top 10 wide receiver the way we expected before injury. So if you can get a little bit outta J.J., really, they’re in contention. And not only that, they’re probably, for my money, if he plays the way he did in the fourth, the favorites in the division.”

Schefter pointed back to how high McCarthy was drafted as a potential indicator of what he’s capable of.

“Look, if Jaxson Dart were healthy this year, they would be the favorites to win the division,” he said. “They’re now getting a quarterback who at one point was the 10th overall pick in a draft in where Caleb Williams went one, Jayden Daniels went two, and Drake Maye went three. They believe he’s got that type of ability. If they can harness that type of ability, which the Vikings were willing to just give up on it, and they have a chance to win the division and set up the franchise.”

McCarthy’s first start for New York will come on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

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