The New York Giants are currently in the driver’s seat with the No. 1 pick in the draft with a 2-13 record, and their $160 million quarterback is on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.
All arguments about “tanking” for the draft’s top pick aside, the Giants remain in a precarious position with a relatively weak pool of quarterback prospects and plenty of holes to plug on the roster.
The consensus top two quarterback options, Miami’s Cameron Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, were both likely late first- or second-rounders in last year’s class.
Both are projected to be top-five picks due to quarterback demand, but lack the level of traditional scouting interest that top passers have seen in recent years. This is reminiscent of the 2022 NFL Draft. Many experts expected former Liberty QB Malik Willis to go in the top 10 overall before falling to the third round.
There’s little indication that general manager Joe Schoen will take over after this season, but the decision to take him on or replace him will be bigger than the quarterback decision.
If he hires Ward or Sanders and gets fired next year, it could lead to years of organizational difficulties because whoever replaces Schoen might not agree on the quarterback position and there would be less room for error for the “probably” franchise quarterback.
Assuming Schoen stays, he’ll have to roll the dice again on a quarterback sooner or later, and there’s no guarantee he’ll throw the first dart next year or that one of the available quarterbacks will be better. Ward or Sanders.
If he trusts one of the two top passers in this year’s class, he might feel obligated to take the risk of not drafting a first-round quarterback during his tenure as GM.
The decision to draft a quarterback instead of trading back and freeing up resources would be a divisive decision. Research into draft strategy shows that teams all overvalue their top draft picks and that the market for quarterbacks in the draft is uniquely different from every other position.
Considering the number of position holes the Giants have, it would make a lot of sense for them to stockpile early round picks for the next few years, but Schoen would potentially leave them behind instead of selecting his successor. I got shot trying to get a job.
If the Giants keep Schoen and he decides to swing at quarterback, another dilemma they will face is who to choose between Ward and Sanders.
It’s a decision that can be somewhat influenced by ownership.
Over the past two decades, the Giants have had decent, “out of the spotlight” quarterbacks in Eli Manning and Daniel Jones, and Sanders’ selection would be a major departure from that mold.
The mayor of New York is infamous for his ability to rip off athletes and constantly stab celebrities. Sanders’ temperament will be under a microscope after a few spectacles while in Colorado.
The most likely outcome seems to be Schoen staying, the Giants taking Ward with the first overall pick, and the front office entertaining an offer in hopes of landing something too good to pass up. However, the most likely outcome is not necessarily the most promising outcome.
