Well, that's a wrap on the worst season in franchise history for the New York Giants. What was supposed to be a special year honoring the organization in its centennial season turned into a complete dumpster fire.
Seeing Eli Manning get snubbed from this year's Hall of Fame class and the Saquon Barkley-led Eagles win the Super Bowl does not make things any better for Big Blue fans. The outcome of this season should add some extra motivation for the Giants to have an impressive offseason and gear up for a much-needed improvement in 2025.
The Giants must focus entirely on the quarterback position this offseason. With Daniel Jones no longer on the roster and Drew Lock likely not returning to New York, Tommy DeVito is the only signal-caller currently on the depth chart.
The G-Men will draft a quarterback, but whether they select one in the first or second round remains to be seen. They should also pursue a veteran in free agency.
Still, the Giants need someone who can throw the ball to Malik Nabers, preferably with experience, and someone who can mentor a younger prospect. Some options include Jameis Winston, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, and Matthew Stafford, who has recently been linked to the team.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr suggested the Giants use their fourth-round pick to try and pry Jake Browning out of Cincinnati to start next season while a rookie sits and learns behind him. There have been several ideas floating around, but let's just say this one might be the most out-of-left-field move Joe Schoen could make.
Joe Schoen has to do better than Jake Browning
Following an impressive college career at the University of Washington, where he was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pac-12 as a sophomore in 2016, Browning went undrafted in 2019 and signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
Since 2021, Browning has served as Joe Burrow’s backup in Cincinnati with the Bengals. In 2023, he started seven games while Burrow was injured, leading the Bengals to a 4-3 record while completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
While Browning would be a cheaper option with some experience, he does not have as much starting experience as players like Winston, Fields, and Darnold. Browning cannot be the big splash the Giants' front office makes after finishing 3-14 in 2024.
The Giants need someone with more than seven career starts to be the face of the franchise next season and mentor whichever young prospect they decide to draft.
Unfortunately, Browning does not provide what the Giants are looking for, and Schoen should not even consider entertaining this idea.