The New York Giants’ blueprint for the 2025 NFL Draft may have just gone up in smoke, thanks to Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Heading into the College Football Playoff, Allar was seen as a potential wild card—an unpolished but intriguing prospect who could declare early and shake up the draft order. Instead, his poor showing in Penn State’s Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame appears to have solidified his need for another year of college football, leaving the Giants caught in the middle of a quarterback frenzy.
Without Allar in the mix, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns—both ahead of New York in the draft order—now seem all but certain to grab the only two elite quarterbacks in this year’s class, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. For the Giants, who are desperate to move on from the Daniel Jones era and finally find a long-term answer at quarterback, the dream of landing one of this year’s top-tier passers is slipping away.
Drew Allar’s NFL readiness takes a massive hit in Orange Bowl
Allar’s Orange Bowl outing was nothing short of disappointing. Against a Notre Dame defense that forced him into uncomfortable throws all night, Allar finished with just 135 passing yards on 12-of-23 attempts, with no touchdowns and one costly interception that sealed Penn State’s fate.
The performance reinforced lingering doubts about his NFL readiness, from his inconsistent decision-making to his struggles under pressure—it was honestly very Daniel Jones-esque.
Scouts had hoped the CFP stage would highlight Allar’s upside—his powerful arm, pro-ready frame, and flashes of athleticism. Instead, it exposed his inexperience and lack of polish. While Allar has the physical tools and potential to eventually succeed, his struggles in critical moments indicate he’s better off returning to Penn State for his senior season—a plan already in motion.
I know Drew Allar "intends" to return to Penn St. in 2025.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 1, 2025
But...
There are several NFL GMs who believe Allar could enter the 2025 NFL Draft with a strong playoff run. Teams are still heavily scouting him for the 2025 class.
Without Allar declaring for the draft, the Giants are in a precarious position.
Adding to the intrigue, Allar hails from Medina, Ohio, making the Browns at No. 2 an enticing landing spot. A hometown connection could have swayed the Browns to select Allar if he declared, which would have left the Giants with whichever quarterback—Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders—fell to them at No. 3. Now, with Allar likely staying in school, Cleveland is expected to target one of the top two quarterbacks, creating a logjam at the top of the draft and leaving New York on the outside looking in.
The Titans, at No. 1, are widely expected to draft Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, while the Browns—who are reportedly souring on Deshaun Watson after his latest injury setback—are almost guaranteed to take the remainder. That leaves the Giants at No. 3 with no clear franchise quarterback available, a worst-case scenario for a team desperate for one.
This draft cycle had been billed as the moment the Giants could finally find their guy under center, but Allar’s flop has derailed those hopes. With the top two quarterbacks likely off the board, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll must either settle for a risky, developmental option like Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart, or Garrett Nussmeier or pivot to exploring veteran options.
For a franchise in desperate need of a new direction, the Drew Allar situation is a painful reminder of how quickly plans can unravel. Now, the Giants’ front office must regroup, but the path to drafting a game-changing quarterback feels as narrow as ever.