Shedeur Sanders sees a Browns escape route come to a brutal end

Shedeur Sanders will have to keep waiting for his opportunity with the Cleveland Browns , and one of the potential doors that could have opened elsewhere has now closed following the latest quarterback move around the NFL .

The New York Giants acquired J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings on Monday in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick . The move, announced by Minnesota, is pending McCarthy passing his physical examination.

New York needed to add depth at quarterback after losing Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 . McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft , joins veteran Jameis Winston and gives the Giants a young quarterback with developmental upside.

McCarthy’s arrival essentially removes New York from the list of potential landing spots for Sanders. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith had pushed the idea of the Giants pursuing the Browns backup, but the franchise ultimately decided to invest in a different young quarterback.

Stephen A. Smith wanted the Giants to pursue Shedeur Sanders

Smith made the case for Sanders joining New York during the September 24 edition of ESPN’s First Take , arguing that the Giants should explore alternatives after Dart’s injury.

“It’s about looking for a better backup than Jameis Winston,” Smith said.

The ESPN personality questioned whether Winston could be the answer to limit mistakes and keep the Giants competitive. While acknowledging that New York had committed to the veteran with a $13 million extension , Smith argued that the contract should not prevent the team from searching for an upgrade.

With McCarthy now on the roster, New York has a young quarterback to develop while Winston remains in the starting role. For Sanders , the possibility of earning a similar opportunity outside Cleveland now appears increasingly unlikely.

Winston, meanwhile, led the Giants to a narrow 12-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, although he threw for just 118 yards.