The Giants initially preferred Aaron Rodgers but ended up signing Russell Wilson as their presumed Week 1 starter. Wilson may have wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, but with the Steelers still pursuing Rodgers, he found a new home in New York.
Following their misstep in extending Daniel Jones’ contract, the Giants are now relying on Wilson and Jameis Winston as temporary solutions while they evaluate this year’s draft class for a long-term quarterback. With GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll under pressure, picking the wrong quarterback again could have major consequences.
There’s speculation around the league that signing Wilson indicates the Giants may not be sold on this year’s non-Cam Ward quarterback prospects, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, Wilson’s presence gives the team more flexibility. Without him, they might have felt compelled to draft Shedeur Sanders. Despite this, some insiders aren’t convinced the Giants will pass on a quarterback with the No. 3 pick.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, quarterback remains the most likely option for the Giants at No. 3, and a league scout claims their interest in Sanders is “the worst-kept secret.” The team has been linked to the Colorado QB since the fall and even arranged a visit with him in February. Giants scouts attended every Colorado home game last season, though part of that could be attributed to scouting Travis Hunter, a top WR/CB prospect.
Ward is considered the top QB in this draft, but if the Giants don’t take Sanders, they risk missing out on other viable options. Jaxson Dart, for instance, is gaining first-round momentum, with some teams ranking him as the second-best QB in the class. If the Giants pass on Sanders, it’s uncertain if they’ll have another solid QB option available at No. 34.
A recent report suggests Sanders likely won’t fall out of the top 10, despite concerns about his athleticism compared to his father, Deion Sanders. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks him as the 18th-best prospect, with Ward at No. 10. The Titans and Browns’ decisions at the top of the draft could influence the Giants’ direction.
Sanders excelled at Colorado, leading Division I-FBS with a 74% completion rate and earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors with 4,134 passing yards and a 37:10 TD-INT ratio. However, unlike his father, he’s not a dual-threat QB, finishing both FBS seasons with negative rushing yards.
If the Browns take Ward and the Giants don’t select Sanders, Hunter could become a consideration at No. 3. He’d bring excitement at either wide receiver or cornerback, but passing on a quarterback would raise questions. If the Giants draft Sanders, Winston could become a trade candidate, similar to how the Jets dealt Teddy Bridgewater in 2018 after drafting Sam Darnold.
Wilson, who was released by the Broncos and not heavily pursued by the Steelers, reportedly explored a fit with Daboll before signing with the Giants on a one-year, $10.5 million guaranteed deal. The contract includes incentives that could increase its value to $21 million.
If Wilson plays 65% of the Giants’ snaps, he’ll earn an extra $500K, with additional bonuses at 75% ($1M) and 85% ($2M). He also has performance-based incentives, such as a $500K bonus for a passer rating above 96.0 or a 64% completion rate. A 20-TD season and a passer rating above 88 could also earn him another $500K.
The Giants structured playoff incentives into Wilson’s deal as well. If he plays at least 55% of the snaps and the team makes the playoffs, he’ll earn $750K. That bonus jumps to $1.5M at 75% snaps. Further bonuses apply for playoff wins and regular-season victories when he plays at least 50% of the snaps.