It’s no secret the New York Giants are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. The real question, however, is whether they’re desperate enough to pay handsomely for one — via the draft, a trade or signing.
When it comes to selecting a rookie passer in April’s NFL Draft, there are slim options in the first round, and New York could oddly miss out sitting with the No. 3 overall pick.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants would have to give up a significant haul to the Tennessee Titans if they want to own the first overall selection.
Based on the value of picks and the team’s intention to select a quarterback, general manager Joe Schoen would have to be willing to part with the No. 3 pick, at least one second-rounder (No. 34 or a 2026 pick) and possibly more.
That’s if Schoen is completely sold on either Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, who according to experts are a far cry from the talents New York missed out on in 2024.
Mortgaging the franchise’s future on a non-proven passer is a risky move. The Chicago Bears moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in 2017 to pick Mitchell Trubisky, and that did not work out.
Chicago gave up three future picks (none of them first-rounders) for a quarterback who wasn’t scouted as top-two-pick talent.
The last time the team sitting at No. 3 traded up for the No. 1 pick was in 1975 when the Atlanta Falcons sent an offensive lineman, a third-round pick and the first-rounder for QB Steve Bartkowski.
Times have certainly changed, and the Giants will have to pay a much steeper price than what Atlanta did 50 years ago.
Schoen will need to be careful not to buy into hype or desperation when making the inevitable decision in April.