There might not be a more heartbroken football fan than one cheering for the New York Giants right now. Not only has his team remained in mediocrity and waived Daniel Jones, but they also had to watch Saquon Barkley leave and immediately win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, all hope might not be lost in New York. Out from under the Jones business and holding the third overall pick, the Giants have a chance to swiftly rebuild. One analyst believes the solution begins by taking a quarterback with their first-round pick.
New York Giants Predicted To Draft and Stash Their Future Franchise QB
On the year, the Giants had a surprisingly solid defense that had them in the top-half of the league for the most season, before a late-season nosedived placed them 20th on PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
However, they need some serious changes on the offensive end. Led by Jones, who was 32nd on PFSN’s QB+ metric, they registered the second-worst offense in the league, per PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
That needs to change, and with Malik Nabers, they have some weapons with elite superstar potential already on the roster. However, to build out their roster, Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr believes the team is about to take a rather unconventional route.
“The Giants will pair a quarterback in one of the first two rounds with an established veteran. I think the Giants’ starting quarterback this coming Week 1 will be aged 27 or older.” That decision, he believes, will come from the experience of head coach Brian Daboll.
“Brian Daboll understands the game and also knows that the quickest way toward erasing the ugliness of next season is to find himself a quarterback with some seasoning who can get the ball out on time and on location.”
However, with the Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr experience going disastrously for the Atlanta Falcons this season, Orr understands the issues the Giants could have to contend with.
Cam Ward’s ability to extend plays while keeping his eyes downfield and make throws off-platform is so enticing. Plays such a loose brand of football.
Ward was second in the country in big-time throws last season (31). pic.twitter.com/F3F1Jc0cgE
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) February 18, 2025
“While I feel the Giants [will] suffer a bit in the way the Falcons did—so much perceived talent but real holes at foundational spots that are overlooked—this is the season where it all must come together or fall apart.”
He even suggested a potential path forward for the squad. “Use my extra fourth-round draft pick and see if I can pry Jake Browning out of Cincinnati, giving [Cam] Ward some time to sit in Year 1. Eventually, for Daboll to succeed, he’s going to need the dynamism of a running quarterback.”
The latest mock draft from PFSN has a far different outlook, however. Not only is Ward going to the Tennessee Titans with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Giants forego drafting a quarterback altogether and choose Travis Hunter instead.
PFSN’s Ben Rolfe believes they “need playmakers on both sides of the ball, and Hunter would provide that option.” As a two-way superstar with a Heisman Trophy under him, he thinks Hunter might be a defensive specialist with some plays sprinkled in on offense.
“As a rookie, Hunter could also be a valuable special-teams option alongside playing on defense and then have a couple of packages a game on offense.” And with the Titans desperately needing a quarterback to rival New York themselves, they could have their long-term answer in Ward.
