First in a three-part sequence on the Giants quarterback concern. Coming tomorrow: Inspecting Sam Darnold and different confirmed or semi-proven requests.
These 5 phrases are irrelevant for the Giants and their followers and it’s best to keep away from saying them or occupied with them, for the sanity of all involved.
“If this was last year …”
We are going to go forward and use that phrase within the correct context after which banish it without end.
If the highest quarterbacks within the 2024 NFL Draft had been accessible this yr, the Giants can be sitting fairly. They personal the No. 3 decide within the 2025 draft and would have been assured of getting one of many three top-tier quarterback prospects.
The Giants had the No. 6 decide a yr in the past, watched quarterbacks come off the board 1, 2 and three — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye — and chosen broad receiver Malik Nabers.
This yr, it appears to be like as if No. 3 is one spot out of the place the Giants have to be in what’s broadly thought-about an underwhelming and largely a two-quarterback draft, by way of bona fide high-level prospects. And the consensus is these two prime guys, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, grade out considerably beneath the highest three quarterbacks within the 2024 draft.
“They’re a yr too late,’’ David Syvertse, senior draft analyst for Ourlads Scouting Service instructed The Put up.
We will see if higher late than by no means is the route the Giants select to take.
There are three quarterback teams, in keeping with most draft analysts. Ward (Miami) and Sanders (Colorado) on the prime of the record — in differing orders, relying on the attention of the beholder.
Subsequent, it’s Jalen Milroe (Alabama) because the third quarterback, virtually in an area of his personal, with Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) ranging into that tier.
Ward and Sanders will come off the board rapidly — probably No. 1 and No. 2 to quarterback-needy groups (Titans and Browns) — and most anticipate Milroe to go later within the first spherical.
After that, there’s a third group, anticipated to be chosen late within the first spherical, the second spherical, on into the third spherical and again into Day 3 of the draft.
That group consists of Dart (if he doesn’t go earlier), Quinn Ewers (Texas) and a bunch of others that can be thought-about: Will Howard (Ohio State), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Kurtis Rourke (Indiana), Kyle McCord (Syracuse) and Max Brosmer (Minnesota).
“It’s only a very questionable group,’’ Syvertsen stated of the 2025 quarterback class.
Final yr made historical past, with six quarterbacks taken within the prime 12 picks, as Michael Penix went No. 8 to the Falcons, J.J. McCarthy went No. 10 to the Vikings and Bo Nix went No. 12 to the Broncos. Then, there was the biggest hole in NFL draft historical past — 137 picks — till the subsequent quarterback was taken: Spencer Rattler within the fifth spherical (No. 150) to the Saints.
There might be one other lengthy hole this yr with this humdrum group. For the Giants, there are a number of selections they should make:
Do they like Sanders or Ward?
Do they consider both of them are value buying and selling as much as get?
Is there one other quarterback within the group value a second-round decide or a potential commerce again into the primary spherical?
Does it make extra sense to not power the problem and go together with an influence participant at a premier place, sit tight at No. 3 and take exterior linebacker Abdul Carter of Penn State or cornerback/broad receiver Travis Hunter of Colorado?
Sanders and Ward are so diametrically totally different as prospects that it’s virtually as if there have been 10 constructive and destructive attributes accessible and somebody determined to separate them evenly, 5 apiece, between them. Syvertsen has them shut, with Ward grading out one level greater than Sanders. “However their routes to that grade had been so totally different,’’ he stated.
Sanders is extra polished, by far the extra correct passer, undoubtedly extra pro-ready. His ground is greater however his ceiling is decrease. He doesn’t have a lot bust potential however maybe additionally not a lot star potential. He has been coached in highschool and in his two faculty stops by his well-known father, Deion Sanders, and appears as if he has been well-schooled, possessing top-flight mechanics and a way of what to do with the ball. He additionally is just not almost as athletic as Ward and smaller, which is a priority.
“I’ve 6-1, 198 for Sanders,’’ Syvertsen stated. “You don’t play quarterback within the NFL at lower than 200 kilos and this child’s been in faculty for 5 years. He’s not a 20-year previous that’s nonetheless rising into his physique. He’s very slender beneath the waist, very small calves and thighs.’’
Ward is 6-foot-2 and 220 kilos.
“He’s quite a bit thicker, type of like that nation boy thickness to him,’’ Syvertsen stated.
Ward was a zero-star recruit popping out of highschool and bounced from Incarnate Phrase to Washington State with out ever being considered as a lot of an NFL prospect. His 2024 season at Miami vaulted him into the highest rung of quarterbacks on this class, however purchaser beware.
Ward’s arm is stronger than Sanders’ and he’s extra able to making issues occur along with his legs. He can throw it from quite a lot of arm angles, a lot in order that Syvertsen likens Ward to former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
“There are occasions once I suppose ‘Oh he’s not a great athlete, he’s a pocket passer,’ however he’s actually athletic in brief areas,’’ Syvertsen stated. “When he wants to flee out of a cellphone sales space he can do it, and he’s very slippery to go rushers, like he’s coated in Vasoline. He simply has a method, just like what [Patrick] Mahomes does, anticipates go rushers, passing lanes and that’s an enormous a part of transitioning to the subsequent degree — can you’re feeling the go rush? I believe it’s the most important weak spot in Shedeur Sanders’ sport. That’s one of many greatest contrasts to the 2 of them, Ward has that sixth sense, Sanders doesn’t.’’
There’s a draw back, although. The place Sanders is polished, Ward is uncooked. The safer decide is Sanders. The extra forward-thinking decide, with dangers, is Ward.
“His dangerous tape is the worst tape of all these guys,’’ Syvertsen stated. “His spectrum could be very broad. He has some terrible interceptions on tape, in opposition to Cal and Duke, Georgia Tech. His dangerous is absolutely dangerous. It’s virtually like he will get just a little lazy, just a little lackadaisical along with his footwork and that’s the most important concern. To make use of a basketball analogy, he’ll hit 3 after 3 however then he’ll miss two free throws and a layup. His mechanics aren’t constant. It isn’t a pure 1, 2, 3 fireplace movement. He doesn’t set himself up correctly. I known as him a JV model of Caleb Williams.’’
So far as the perfect of the remaining, Milroe is essentially the most intriguing but in addition essentially the most harmful, so far as making an attempt to determine what he would possibly turn out to be. He’s almost in a Lamar Jackson class as an athlete and as a working menace however he’s not near being an NFL-caliber passer. Dart is a much more achieved passer, and Syvertsen believes Dart is the perfect on this class in relation to throwing in opposition to the strain of a go rush.
The most effective plan of action for the Giants? Syvertsen says go for the positive factor at No. 3 in Carter or Hunter so as to add expertise and playmaking to the protection after which go quarterback with their second decide. That rookie, together with a veteran bridge quarterback signed in free company, may maintain the Giants over in 2025.
“They’re two difference-makers at key positions,’’ Syvertsen stated of Carter and Hunter. “It’s not the Saquon Barkley argument the place you’re going in opposition to place worth. These guys play premium positions and the Giants want playmakers at premium positions.
Nevertheless, the Giants should do one thing at quarterback that’s going to assist them win video games subsequent yr. I’d take Cam Ward at 3, in the event that they should go quarterback.’’
Have they got to? One more query for the Giants to ponder.
