Let’s just call it like it is: Everything the Giants have done this offseason makes it seem like the only 2025 rookie QB they like is Cam Ward.
Tuesday’s Russell Wilson signing adds more credence to that theory.
Yes, Joe Schoen has publicly scouted Shedeur Sanders all season long — like any QB-needy GM would have — but he was also willing to throw $100 million and draft capital at 37-year-old Matthew Stafford just a few weeks ago, seemed all-in on Aaron Rodgers last week and signed both Wilson and Jameis Winston in the span of four days.
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And sure, you can call this a fail-safe. Maybe Schoen wants two safety nets in the event that the Titans and Browns draft Ward and Sanders before they pick at No. 3. But with a QB class this weak, it’s also not a stretch to think that Schoen wants to pivot away from wasting a top pick on a likely bust — no matter how hot his seat is.
Perhaps this is the evolved version of Schoen’s QB plan he pitched to ownership: Instead of selling John Mara on Sanders — who some scouts believe is closer to most Day 2 prospects than he is to Ward — maybe Schoen vowed to fix their other holes (which he did, for the most part, in free agency) and find two decent bridge options, before picking a project rookie in Round 2. This would then allow the Giants to address the QB question in a more meaningful way at next year’s draft (which is widely considered a better QB crop).
The optics aren’t great. Mara probably would have fired Schoen on the spot if part of his initial plan was to ask for another year to pick a QB. But if this hypothetical holds true, Schoen deserves credit for bolstering his roster with Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter rather than forcing a QB to save his job.
With all of that said, which Day 2 QB should the Giants target? Can they find their version of Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ 53rd pick in 2020 who just led them to the Super Bowl.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is certainly tempting. The 22-year-old prospect is the most athletically gifted QB in the class, running a 4.37 40 time at his Pro Day last week. He’s an inconsistent thrower to say the least, but he would benefit from learning behind Wilson for a good while.
The next several QBs — Will Howard, Riley Leonard, Jaxson Dart and Dillon Gabriel — are all pretty much coin-toss prospects. Pro Football Focus ranks them 112th, 121st, 129th and 131st respectively, but they’ll all probably go higher due to position value. Brian Daboll would reclaim his QB whisperer moniker if he can squeeze any value out of them.
Look, this outcome doesn’t exactly sound exciting. You can easily sell the fans on a desperate trade up for Ward — which also might be risky. But it’s a far better scenario than reaching on a player not worthy of a top 3 pick. Sanders, according to plenty of scouts, isn’t worth it.
With the Wilson signing, Schoen finally has the opportunity to do the right thing for the Giants’ future: Use his valuable No. 3 pick on a player who’s worth it in Carter or Hunter. Does he have the courage to do it?
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Ryan Novozinsky may be reached at rnovozinsky@njadvancemedia.com. You can follow him on X @ryannovoNFL
