The New York Giants are projected to have multiple top-10 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. With that, it would make sense to attack the most important position in team sports, right? Well, not so fast. With no clear-cut No. 1 quarterback candidate in the top 10, the Giants may replace current starting quarterback Daniel Jones with a later-round selection. With one more year remaining on Jones’ contract, the opportunity to ride with Jones for one season, as the team apparently plans to as was reported by Adam Schefter on December 26, and work on a 2022 NFL Draft project at quarterback is there.
This is, of course, without mentioning the fact that they’re the leaders in the clubhouse to land the services of Russell Wilson via trade this offseason. So, if they don’t spend their draft capital on a trade for Wilson, who are some of the prospects New York could target to eventually replace Jones?
2022 NFL Draft QB targets for the New York Giants
Let’s assume the Giants don’t acquire Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, and they do indeed look to take a quarterback in the first round. Where might they look?
Round 1 targets at QB for NYG
Currently penciled in to own the No. 5 and 6, the Giants would potentially have their choice of the top quarterback in the class. Here are the options they’d have at either pick.
Carson Strong, Nevada
No prospect is perfect in this class, but one is largely NFL-ready. That’s Carson Strong. The big-armed kid from Nevada has as strong an arm as anyone in recent memory. Drawing comparisons to a nimble, spry, in-his-prime Ben Roethlisberger, Strong can easily hit every level of the field.
He also drops accurately placed balls to every level of the field just as easily. Strong has only one slight concern that will be documented thoroughly through the pre-draft process — a high school knee injury. As rumors swirl, one thing is for certain — Strong may be the safest thing at the position if, in fact, his knee checks all the boxes.
Matt Corral, Ole Miss
With a terrific arm and uncanny athleticism, Matt Corral may become the complete package at quarterback. He’ll need to work on his vision from within the pocket. But other than that, Corral has ample arm strength and the ability to throw from any platform. The system he played in at Ole Miss was QB-friendly, but he showcased his abilities from within structure consistently.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
A gamer and experienced veteran, Kenny Pickett has hands down the most experience of any quarterback in this class. He also has some of the more historic records as well. Rewriting the Pittsburgh record book is one thing; surpassing the great Dan Marino is another. Pickett returned for a fifth year at Pitt in 2021 and emerged as the biggest single victor of the season. He’ll have to answer questions about his hand size, as silly as that sounds, but he’s more than proven to be a leader of a team and an elevator of talent.
Sam Howell, North Carolina
The ceiling was set very high for Sam Howell as he entertained discussions of being locked in as the No. 1 overall pick for the 2022 NFL Draft ahead of this season. He didn’t elevate anything around him until late this season, but his elite arm strength is there. Howell is the owner of multiple NFL throws, spotting his receivers from the opposite hash breaking towards the sidelines at will. He drops passes in with precision and has enough power behind his throws to turn heads.
Malik Willis, Liberty
With athleticism in spades, the biggest draw to selecting Malik Willis in the first round is he maintains vision downfield when scrambling and buying time in the pocket. He was asked to do too much for Liberty in 2021. With a whippy arm, Willis presents problems for defenses in any coverage. He’s also grown as a passer in each of the past two seasons with the Flames.
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Accuracy issues aside, Desmond Ridder has all the tools to be a potential first-round pick. Sure his consistency has lapses in terms of throwing accurate passes, but he’s an elite athlete with plenty of arm strength. Though a long shot at this point to be drafted this high, Ridder is squarely in the first-round discussion.
Late-round 2022 NFL Draft QB targets for the Giants
Alright, say New York isn’t keen on any of the quarterbacks with their first-round picks. Let’s say they move away from acquiring Russell Wilson. And let’s even say they’ve drafted offensive help with their first two picks of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Rounds 2-7 targets at QB for NYG
If all of the aforementioned scenarios fall into place, here are some later-round targets and names to know for the Giants to draft at the quarterback position. Who could they look to?
Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan
Looking for a zippy arm with plenty of upside? Look no further than Kaleb Eleby. There were flashes of brilliance during his time at Western Michigan, including several big-time throws that make you say “wow.” There were also some minor hiccups along the way that included locking onto receivers, escaping the pocket too quickly, and forcing too many throws. Fortunately for Eleby, those are coachable, and the “uncoachable” attributes like accuracy and arm talent are there in spades.
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
All Bailey Zappe did in 2021 was break historical records. Historical records owned by Joe Burrow, that is. Zappe has ample arm strength to hit every level of the field and understands how to maneuver pockets. Zappe just has to prove he can make the NFL throws as he adjusts to the level of competition.
Brock Purdy, Iowa State
Brock Purdy is a player with a ton of questions but routinely answers all of them brilliantly. Purdy is far from perfect but possesses a ton of elite-level skills. He can stand tall against pressure and make tight-window throws. Purdy has enough tape of him throwing his receivers open. He’s also an underrated athlete with the football. Purdy was inconsistent and didn’t quite elevate his cast in 2021. Still, he’s a project worth undertaking later in the draft.
Other names to watch in the 2022 NFL Draft: JT Daniels, Georgia; McKenzie Milton, Florida State; Skylar Thompson, Kansas State; Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA; Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington