INDIANAPOLIS — Joe Schoen wouldn’t essentially be throwing a Hail Mary if he traded for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and drafted Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado nook Travis Hunter with the Giants’ No. 3 total decide.
The GM may simply be assembling the very best group he may.
Perceive this: the Giants want the whole lot, not simply quarterbacks. They want a nook, a large receiver, a security, extra offensive linemen, extra defensive linemen, one other operating again — title it.
So what Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll want above all is to make some layups, to hit some singles, to amass contributing gamers who instantly make their roster extra competent each now and sooner or later.
Schoen completely should look out for the franchise’s long-term curiosity, which implies not parting with that No. 3 decide in any potential commerce. However he and Daboll additionally need to put a aggressive product on the sphere in Week 1 of this upcoming 2025 season.
Would Schoen be doing that if he assembled a quarterback room of Derek Carr and Shedeur Sanders or Russell Wilson and Cam Ward?
Perhaps, however each of these hypotheticals are main rolls of the cube for Daboll to even attain Week 8 of his fourth season as coach.
The optimum final result clearly can be if Schoen drafted Sanders or Ward and the rookie QB grew to become a franchise star like Jayden Daniels simply did with the Washington Commanders. However skills like Daniels and the Houston Texans’ C.J Stroud are far rarer than their back-to-back picks at No. 2 total in 2023 and 2024 counsel.
Fixing the Giants’ 2025 quarterback drawback by means of a veteran commerce for Stafford or a free agent signing like Kirk Cousins if Atlanta releases him, alternatively, may save Schoen from performing out of desperation on draft day — and permit him to easily take one of the best, every-down participant on the board.
If it had been Carter, it might assist their go rush.
If it had been Hunter, it may assist each their offense and protection, given the Heisman Trophy winner’s two-way talents.
Then the Giants may take the sphere in 2025 with extra cost-controlled younger expertise, augmented by the remainder of Schoen’s draft and no matter signings he makes with some refreshing wage cap house.
The newest on Stafford is that the quarterback and his agent are scheduled to fulfill with the Rams this week in Indianapolis to attempt to hammer out a contract extension, Colin Cowherd reported on The Quantity.
It’s doable he’ll simply keep in L.A., which might take one of the best quarterback choice off the Giants’ board. Till the Rams rule Stafford out as an choice, nonetheless, he should be thought of a possible Giants goal given their speedy have to subject a good group.
Daboll’s group doesn’t have sufficient leaders, not to mention a quarterback. Stafford’s pedigree with a brand new contract would put a greater face on a disgraced franchise that at present boasts no hope for the current or future.
It’s unlucky that there isn’t a slam dunk offensive lineman who’s clearly worthy of a high 5 NFL Draft choice this 12 months, too. As a result of that might be the best one-two punch for Schoen, Daboll and the Giants to pair with Stafford.
Essentially the most harmful danger of a Stafford commerce, in any case, isn’t the draft capital or cash it might value. It could be the issue of go safety for a 37-year-old quarterback who will not be particularly cell with a subpar line and a much less inventive offensive scheme that places all of it on the QB.
Ultimately, then, it’s doable Schoen may simply find yourself drafting Sanders or Ward to pair with a much less proficient and cheaper veteran choice, with Jameis Winston and Justin Fields two different choices in that class.
Schoen and the Giants spent an inordinate period of time in Boulder, Colo., this previous season scouting Deion Sanders’ high prospects. It’s no secret they look like enamored with Prime Time’s son.
Most well-reasoned swings on the sport’s most essential place within the NFL Draft are justified. And whereas Daboll’s seat seems scalding scorching, Giants co-owner John Mara appeared to articulate extra persistence and satisfaction together with his GM’s operation than the coach’s on Black Monday.
So Schoen may need the time to look at a younger quarterback undergo rising pains, even when Daboll doesn’t.
Regardless, the Giants’ fourth-year GM must make a giant splash at quarterback a technique or one other right here.
As he steps to the rostrum Tuesday morning in Indianapolis on the 2025 NFL Mix, nonetheless, it’s at present doable for him to make a quarterback play within the veteran market that will enable him to hit a house run on Carter or Hunter on draft day.
And till that’s not a risk, Schoen owes it to the Giants to discover it. Not out of desperation. Just because it’s the logical method to assemble the higher group.
