Russell Wilson is using to the Massive Apple.
Late within the afternoon on Tuesday phrase broke that the veteran quarterback was placing pen to paper on a one-year cope with the New York Giants price as much as $21 million, with $10.5 million absolutely assured. Wilson, coming off one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, joins a quarterback room with Tommy DeVito and the not too long ago acquired Jameis Winston.
What would possibly this transfer imply for the Giants’ resolution at No. 3 within the first spherical?
It’d imply nothing, or it would imply all the things.
Let’s work by way of their choices
Keep at three and take one of the best participant out there
By including Wilson and Winston to the roster, Joe Schoen has given himself some flexibility with the quarterback room.
Ought to the Giants not like a quarterback on this draft, or if their favourite choices should not out there when they’re on the clock, Schoen a minimum of can pivot to totally different positions or different areas of want.
Or maybe the proverbial “greatest participant out there.”
Studying the tea leaves — as our personal James Dator did not too long ago — it appears the Tennessee Titans are zeroing in on quarterback Cam Ward with the first-overall choice within the 2025 NFL Draft. Assuming he certainly goes off the board at No. 1, the Cleveland Browns are on the clock with a necessity at quarterback, however two super skills in Travis Hunter Jr. and Abdul Carter can be found.
The Browns can solely decide one, not all three.
Maybe Cleveland addresses their very own quarterback woes with Shedeur Sanders, maybe not. The Browns have already added Kenny Pickett to their quarterback room, and rumors are swirling that they is probably not executed including veterans, with Kirk Cousins linked to Cleveland. The Browns may resolve to go the veteran route, passing on Sanders and choosing both Hunter or Carter.
Which would go away the opposite out there for Schoen at No. 3.
Including both participant would supply an additional improve to a protection that has seen some additions already in free company. Given the Giants’ extensive receiver room, choosing Hunter would possible see New York make the most of him primarily as a cornerback, the place he would be a part of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland, two gamers added throughout free company. You would additionally think about Brian Daboll would like to have a package deal of performs for Hunter on the offensive aspect of the ball, together with Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Wan’Dale Robinson within the WR room.
Or, whether it is Hunter who comes off the board to Cleveland at No. 2, New York may add Carter to a defensive position that already options Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants face a choice on Thibodeaux’s fifth-year choice, and whereas he posted a career-high in sacks in 2023, his manufacturing dipped a season in the past. Nonetheless, three proficient move rushers up entrance is rarely a nasty factor, and including Carter would give the Giants some flexibility in the event that they resolve to maneuver on from Thibodeaux after 2025.
Commerce out of No. 3
Once more, with the working assumption that the Titans are drafting Ward with the primary decide, that implies that one of many Hunter/Carter/Sanders trio shall be out there at No. 3.
Would a workforce be prepared to commerce up, and will Schoen entertain the thought?
The primary query is likely to be a bit more durable to reply — though you’ll be able to think about eventualities the place groups would love to leap to No. 3 for Hunter, or the place a workforce left standing when the music stops within the sport of “veteran QB musical chairs” strikes up for a shot at Sanders if he’s out there.
However as to the second query, Schoen ought to a minimum of entertain the thought. It is a workforce that completed 3-14 a season in the past and will enhance at a number of positions. Whereas the Giants have eight draft picks on this class and have made some additions in free company, the extra expertise they purchase, the higher.
If the state of affairs presents itself, and a workforce is prepared to pay a premium to get to No. 3, Schoen ought to a minimum of entertain the thought.
Keep at three and take a QB
That is the “including Wilson and Winston actually doesn’t change a factor” choice.
Including the 2 veterans has given the Giants a while on the quarterback place, and potential bridges to the following potential face of the franchise. However with each Wilson and Winston signed to one-year offers, the Giants should not dedicated to both QB past 2025.
Actually it’s affordable to see this information and assume that the Giants should not trying QB at 3 (or anticipate that each Ward and Sanders shall be off the board by then) however once more, these veteran additions give them flexibility. They will sit and take one of the best participant out there, or they’ll add a quarterback at No. 3 and make life slightly simpler for them.
Certain, if the Giants draft Sanders at No. 3 there shall be strain to play him sooner somewhat than later — say, the primary three-and-out in Week 1 — however having two veterans permits the teaching employees in New York a protracted runway in direction of turning the keys over to a rookie QB. It might additionally permit Sanders a season to be taught underneath two veterans, and whereas there isn’t a substitute for hands-on expertise, there are latest examples of QBs benefiting from a redshirt season within the NFL.
Some would possibly say that this transfer signifies simply how the Giants really feel about this quarterback class, and a willingness to punt the QB resolution to 2026. However that is the proverbial “grass is all the time greener” line of considering. Sure, on paper, the 2026 QB class is likely to be intriguing with gamers like Drew Allar, Nico Iamaleava, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik and sure, Arch Manning doubtlessly within the combine.
Nonetheless, there’s a lengthy option to go, and a number of soccer left to be performed. Certain the Giants may anticipate 2026, but when that group of prospects doesn’t pan out, you could have misplaced a chance to have a QB within the constructing and studying for a yr, and now the cycle will start anew.
After all, this line of considering assumes {that a} quarterback — Sanders if we imagine the smoke round Tennessee — is out there. Ought to the Browns shock everybody and the draft begins QB-QB, we are able to circle again to the primary two choices.
But when a QB is out there, including Wilson and Winston shouldn’t preclude the Giants from drafting a quarterback.
In the end, this a part of the evaluation would possibly rely upon simply how assured Schoen is about his personal job safety.
Would he draft a participant with a watch in direction of 2026, if he won’t be there to reap the reward?