The Giants still need a quarterback.

And they hope when they eventually find one, he is a footnote to what comes later. 

They did not land one as of 11 p.m. on Monday.

Given their desperation, it is fortunate for them that Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson did not yet find new homes to continue their NFL careers. 

Rodgers and Wilson remain the top remaining options for the Giants, as their first choice to move into the starting quarterback role, Matthew Stafford, last week opted to stay with the Rams after he entered into negotiations with the Giants and actually agreed to contract terms. 

The Giants know they must add a veteran at the position and they hope they will be in position to get a quarterback up high in the NFL Draft, either with the No. 3 pick or with a trade up with the тιтans to No. 1.

Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are the top targets.

The experienced player they bring in needs to be able to start on opening day, if needed, and win enough games for as long as he is needed as the starter. 

There was not a wave of quarterback movement on Day 1 of NFL free agency.

It was widely speculated that Sam Darnold would end up in Seattle, once the Seahawks last week traded Geno Smith to the Raiders.

Darnold came in where he was expected to be, with a three-year contract worth $100.5 million from the Seahawks.

The Giants were not in on Darnold. 

There was also a lot of momentum heading into Monday that Justin Fields would land with the Jets, and his deal — two years, $40 million — was in line with the predicted price tag.

Fields leaving the Steelers opened up a quarterback job that needs to be filled.

There were rumblings early in the afternoon that Rodgers was close to an agreement with the Steelers but that did not come to be. 

Wilson went 6-5 with the Steelers last season, losing his last five starts (including one in the playoffs). 

The Vikings, after not making a play to re-sign Darnold, need a veteran capable of starting in case their 2024 first round pick — J.J. McCarthy — is not ready to play early in the season, coming off two knee surgeries.

The Vikings went 14-3 last season, with Darnold enjoying a career breakthrough.

They have to be a strong consideration for any player who wants to join a winning program. 

It remains to be seen if the Giants’ horrid 2024 showing — a record of 3-14 — and uncertainty about their regime — general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll were given a firing reprieve by ownership — will dissuade veteran quarterbacks from coming aboard, if they have other options.

For now, the Giants can offer a starting job, although if they are being fully transparent, they do want to add a rookie as their future franchise quarterback. 

The Steelers unquestionably have a vacant starting job.

With the Vikings, Rodgers or Wilson would be a placeholder until McCarthy is deemed ready to play.

This is all topsy-turvy for the Giants, as their inability to know what will happen next month in the draft makes this first decision on a veteran quarterback much more difficult.

Further complicating matters — and this one is not easy for the Giants to accept — is that where Daniel Jones winds up could play a major factor in how the quarterback carousel spins for the Giants.

Jones could end up returning to the Vikings or possibly hooking on with the тιтans or Browns or Colts.

The Giants benched Jones after 10 games this past season and then released him, finally giving up on their 2019 first-round pick.

He signed with the Vikings practice squad and if he returns to Minnesota, that eliminates a spot for Rodgers to land. 

Rodgers, 41, is a Hall of Famer-in-waiting and Wilson, 36, is likely one as well.

They both have great pedigrees, are past their prime as players and bring along some baggage — Rodgers far more than Wilson.

The remaining options are hardly scintillating.

Jimmy Garoppolo came off the list when he agreed to a one-year deal to back up Stafford with the Rams.

Others the Giants would have to consider resemble a don’t-shoot-the-messenger ᴀssortment: Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew, Marcus Mariota, Mac Jones, Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett and Cooper Rush.