Giants' QB Search: Second Reporter Ties Garoppolo to Giants, Flacco Shoots Down Trade Talk
The Post, citing Ryan Dunleavy's reporting, and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo have independently put Jimmy Garoppolo in the Giants' backup-quarterback conversation. Bengals QB Joe Flacco says he isn't part of it.
The Giants have "real" interest in free agent Jimmy Garoppolo as they search for quarterback depth after Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, the New York Post's Matt Ehalt reported Thursday, citing Ryan Dunleavy's reporting and a league source who said Garoppolo is speculated to be "near the top" of the team's prospective list. Garoppolo, 34, has not thrown a pass since 2024 and went unsigned after two seasons with the Rams.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo said in a Wednesday post on X — relaying comments he says he first made on ESPN's "Big Day" show — that he expects Garoppolo "to be part of the discussion" and views the Giants as one of the few teams the free agent would pursue.
Bengals backup Joe Flacco denies he's part of that search. He told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday, in remarks reported by the Post, that trade buzz tying him to the Giants is "not real and not true," even though friends texted him, "Hey, I'll see you in New York."
"In these cases, it's not up to me," Flacco said. "I'm on the Cincinnati Bengals and because of that, that's my focus."
Flacco and Giants coach John Harbaugh won Super Bowl XLVII together in Baltimore, where Flacco played quarterback under Harbaugh from 2008-18. Harbaugh, quoted by the Post, has said he'd consider adding an experienced quarterback "but you've kind of got to go with what's available."