With talk continuing to circle the New York Giants and their pursuit of a new starting quarterback, Mel Kiper Jr. predicts their next franchise starter will arrive via the 2025 NFL Draft. According to Kiper, the team should select the 41-touchdown star regardless of their success in free agency.
New York Giants Continue Their Search for a 2025 Quarterback
After moving on from 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones in 2024, the Giants are still without a clear starting quarterback for the 2025 season. Sam Darnold and Justin Fields both found new teams in free agency, while Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Several veteran quarterbacks remain available, including three Super Bowl winners: Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Joe Flacco. New York is believed to have interest in all three, as well as former Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston. The team is highly likely to sign at least one of those four, with Tommy DeVito currently the only quarterback under contract for 2025.
Which veteran the team eventually signs could impact how they approach the draft in April. While Flacco and Winston are capable quarterbacks, neither would be a long-term solution for New York. Rodgers and Wilson, meanwhile, would expect to be the team’s starter, potentially allowing the Giants to target a different position in the draft.
However, in Kiper’s view, none of the above situations should prevent the team from drafting their quarterback of the future with the third overall pick.
Mel Kiper Jr. Projects Shedeur Sanders to the Giants
In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Kiper suggests that New York should sign a veteran quarterback before selecting Shedeur Sanders with their first pick.
“Even if the Giants land Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, they need to think about the future under center. Rodgers is 41. Wilson is 36. Neither would be the long-term fix. That’s why I still think the Giants could draft Sanders at No. 3. And signing one of those veterans—two guys who have won Super Bowls—then double-dipping at the position with Sanders would only help the rookie learn and develop.”
Kiper also stated his belief that Sanders could be the long-term answer the team has been searching for since Eli Manning’s retirement.
“In Sanders, New York would get a super accurate passer (74.0% completion rate in 2024) who is tough as nails. Despite taking the most sacks in the FBS over the past two seasons (94), he also tied for second in touchdown passes (64) during that time frame. Sanders could provide some QB stability to New York for the first time since Eli Manning was taking the snaps.”
Latest PFSN Mock Also Projects Sanders to the Giants
Kiper isn’t alone in his prediction. The latest mock draft from PFSN also has New York selecting Sanders at No. 3 overall.
“It turns out Shedeur Sanders didn’t wear New York Giants-themed cleats for nothing, even though he isn’t going off the board at the top spot in this scenario. The Giants weren’t able to steal Matthew Stafford away from the Los Angeles Rams and it remains to be seen if they can land Aaron Rodgers in free agency, so their only promising route may be the draft,” wrote PFSN’s Anthony Pasciolla.
Given his pedigree and media-facing stature, Sanders could be the ideal quarterback to thrive in the high-value but high-pressure New York City market.
“Sanders is a near-perfect fit in New York. Regardless of how he performs on the field, he’s a popular player and the son of an NFL legend joining one of the biggest markets.”
After missing on Stafford and seemingly playing second fiddle in the Rodgers sweepstakes, New York has plenty of things to answer under center. As the team pursues a franchise-altering option since its promise-filled 2022 season with Jones, the NFL Draft could be Big Blue’s last chance to nail its saving grace.
With so many quarterback options up in the air, the Giants’ 2025 situation remains unclear. However, as long as the team ends up with Rodgers, Wilson, Sanders, or somehow Cam Ward in September, they should be in a much better position than they were a year ago.
Did New York Improve Its Offensive Infrastructure for 2025?
The Giants had a promising 2025 offseason, bringing some excitement into the season regardless of who is under center. However, even if the team made promising moves, it may all be for naught if the quarterback problem is never resolved.
Notably, the Giants pursued improvement defensively, a wise investment after finishing 20th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric in 2024 with a grade of 71.3 (C-). With Paulson Adebo lining up out wide and Jevón Holland pairing with Dru Phillips at safety, New York does not look like a defense ready to willingly let opposing passing attacks drive down the field.
Notable Signings: CB Paulson Adebo, S Jevón Holland, WR Darius Slayton, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, DL Chauncey Golston, P Jamie Gillan (re-signed), QB Tommy DeVito (re-signed), G Greg Van Roten (re-signed)
Notable Departures: None
However, Big Blue did not do much to inspire confidence offensively. The team brought back Slayton, and while he has four seasons of 700+ receiving yards, there was hope for Nabers to receive a more established running mate.
PFSN’s Stats and Insights team gave New York’s offseason moves a grade of B+ in its NFL Free Agency Grades, noting the strong defensive overhaul but the lack of offensive needle-movers.
“The New York Giants have actively addressed the defensive side of the ball in free agency so far. The unit struggled in 2024, and they needed to get better across the board. Paulson Adebo and Jevón Holland give them young high-upside defensive backs who should start in 2025. Roy Robertson-Harris should be a decent rotational piece for a run defense that was porous last season.
“Bringing back Darius Slayton was somewhat unexpected — not because the Giants shouldn’t want him but because he could’ve easily wanted out of a rough offensive situation. The future at quarterback is uncertain, but Slayton decided to return. The Giants also got him back on a good deal. New York still has a lot of work to do, but they’re off to a decent start.”
While the main question to be answered remains under center, the front office made a strong effort to overhaul the full roster. Will it be enough to get by in 2025 — and will it be enough to potentially save Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll’s jobs?
Any team that is thinking of adding Aaron Rodgers is crazy. He had it and the time spent with the Jets should prove that. Better draft a rookie and build up the position. Same logic for the Browns. Steelers made there own bed now sleep in it.