Get to know the NY Giants’ intriguing new quarterback prospect
The NY Giants have needed a young, long-term backup quarterback that can actually play for a bit now. Undrafted free agent QB, Case Cookus, just might be that guy.
I know, every fanbase – including the NY Giants – thinks every one of their draft picks will work out and even a bunch of their undrafted free agents, too. However, when you take a look at QB prospect Case Cookus, you see a player that had a spectacular career that was cut short by two injuries that shouldn’t impact his NFL career.
A 6’4 205 pound signal-caller out of Northern Arizona University of the Big Sky Conference, Cookus burst onto the scene as a freshman with 3,711 yards, 37 TD’s, only 5 interceptions on a 69% completion rate. He also chipped in 200 yards and 3 touchdowns to help contribute to his First-team All-Big Sky, FCS Freshman of the Year, and Big Sky Freshman of the year season.
With the sky appearing to be the limit in 2016 (Cookus was already on the NFL radar), the injury (shoulder injury specifically) hit to being a back and forth cycle of Cookus missing most of a season with a shoulder or collarbone injury, only to mix in a pretty good season the next year.
It’s a shame because Cookus was off to an insane start to that 2016 season, throwing for almost 1,200 yards, 13 TD’s and one interception in just three full games (he was injured in the fourth game).
Who knows what would have happened if he never was injured that day, as he if doubled up on another season like did his freshman year he really would have been firmly on the draft radar.
He had to work his way back, struggling for his standards in 2017 and then getting injured in 2018. With one last chance to show NFL teams that he was the 2016 version of himself, Cookus did just that, throwing for 4,000 yards, 31 TD’s and 7 interceptions to get himself back into the mix.
During the midst of his epic 2019 run, Yahoo Sports claimed Cookus was the best FCS quarterback prospect since Jimmy Garoppolo.
If that’s the case, the NY Giants will be jumping for joy as the franchise has to know it can’t head into a year where it’s actually a contender – as soon as 2021 after last week’s strong draft – with Colt McCoy or Alex Tanney as its backup.
Next. Ranking the Giants' undrafted free agents. dark
Cookus will likely start on the practice squad, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t outplay those two in camp and earns a spot on the roster at some point during the season.