INDIANAPOLIS — There is nothing clear just yet, other than the stark reality that the down-in-the-dumps Giants need to start winning some games and that they must find a starting quarterback capable of pushing that boulder up the mountain.
What is coming into sharper focus is that the Giants have concerns that they will not be able to address this glaring void on their roster in the upcoming NFL draft, given where they pick — No. 3 overall — and the quality and quanтιтy of the prospects at the position.
What is growing increasingly apparent is the Giants will come to the sobering conclusion that they cannot wait until the draft to find their franchise quarterback, and that could lead to them exploring and, if possible, completing a trade with the Rams to acquire 37-year-old Matthew Stafford.
“I’m for taking swings at that position,’’ general manager Joe Schoen said Tuesday morning from the NFL Scouting Combine. “It’s the most important position and it’s hard to find ‘em, so keep swinging. Keep swinging at the position until you find one.’’
Handing the keys to the offense to Stafford would be quite a swing.
The Giants prefer to get their guy in the draft and have him under contract at rookie wages for the next four years.
That might not be doable.
Cam Ward could be the only quarterback the Giants would consider with the No. 3 overall pick and it is unlikely Ward will be on the board, given that the тιтans and Browns need quarterbacks.
The Giants might have to trade all the way up to No. 1 to get Ward if the тιтans make the pick available, and giving up significant draft capital is always risky.
Would the Giants take Shedeur Sanders at No. 3? That’s uncertain.
It feels as if Schoen is going to be unwilling to wait to see how the vagaries of the draft unfold, as he knows he must come away with a starting-caliber quarterback, no matter when he finds one.
The free-agent pool is uninspiring. Stafford is a known commodity, a big winner and showed in 2024 that he has plenty left in the tank.
“Some people are available for certain reasons, whether it’s a 28-year-old or a 26-year-old, whatever it is, sometimes these quarterbacks are available,’’ Schoen said. “Whoever gives you the best chance to win, that’s what we’re gonna do.’’
What about a certain 37-year-old?
“We’re gonna look at all options,’’ Schoen said. “It’s the most important position in football and we need to look through free agency, trades, draft, whatever is and we need better play out of the position.’’
Tommy DeVito is the only quarterback under contract. The Giants cannot manufacture their next starter out of thin air.
“There’s not just a franchise quarterback tree over there,’’ Schoen said. “What’s available is what you’re looking at. To take one just to say we checked a box, you want it to be the right one because you don’t want to be in this position again if you don’t have to be. If there’s not one of those guys then you look at the other options, and there’s the vet options we can look through too. We need a quarterback. Everybody knows that. Everybody sees our depth chart.’’
