The New York Giants hold the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and many analysts believe that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be available for them to select. However, several of those same experts now predict that the Giants will pass on this opportunity. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN is at the forefront of this group, suggesting that the Giants will skip Sanders and instead choose his teammate, wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter. The prospect of pairing Hunter with Malik Nabers on both sides of the offense is enticing, but the key for the Giants, according to Kiper, will be finding the right quarterback. This decision is crucial for head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, whose job security may depend on it.
Kiper pointed out that while Giants fans might be surprised to see the team pass on Sanders, there are mixed opinions around the league regarding his draft status. Sanders isn’t seen as a guaranteed top-five pick, and Kiper emphasized that the Giants’ front office and coaching staff need to make immediate progress to secure their futures. “Banking on the class’s QB2 might not get it done,” Kiper noted.
Moreover, Kiper is not ruling out the possibility of the Giants bypassing this quarterback class altogether in favor of a veteran option. He raised the idea of the Giants potentially trading for Matthew Stafford or signing Sam Darnold to resolve their quarterback situation. A trade for Stafford could make sense, especially with the Los Angeles Rams holding the 26th pick, which could be swapped for the Giants’ third pick. However, acquiring Stafford would take Hunter out of the equation for New York, and they’d also need to deal with the hefty extension Stafford reportedly seeks, which could be around $50 million annually on a multiyear deal.
On the other hand, signing Darnold would allow the Giants to keep their third pick and select a player like Hunter, who could make an immediate impact. Darnold’s contract, projected at four years and $160 million, would be expensive but would not sacrifice the draft pick. Additionally, rumors have emerged that Tom Brady, the new minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, may have recently tried to recruit Stafford. If the Raiders show significant interest in Stafford, it could complicate the Giants’ chances of acquiring the 37-year-old quarterback.
