The New York Giants’ dismal season continues to hit new lows, but at least the silver lining is clearer after Week 14: the 2025 NFL Draft order. Following a nail-biting loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Giants now hold the No. 2 overall pick, perfectly positioned to draft their next franchise quarterback.
Well, that is, unless someone takes Brandon Jacobs’ advice.
The former Giants running back—known for barreling through defenses—appears to have turned his sights on barrel-rolling through basic draft logic. Jacobs recently suggested the Giants should “trade outta the first round” to stockpile second, third, and fourth-round picks. Because, apparently, “plenty good QB” can be found outside the first round.
Trade outta the first round. Plenty good QB in the draft. Go get you another 2nd 3rd and 4th.
— Brandon Jacobs (@BrandonJacobs27) December 1, 2024
It’s a bold take for a team that has spent the last decade searching for even a moderately good quarterback, let alone a franchise savior. But in a season where fans are already flying banners over MetLife Stadium calling the organization a dumpster fire, Jacobs’ plan might be the most combustible suggestion yet.
Brandon Jacobs' draft proposal misses the mark
The current draft order shows just how high the stakes are for the Giants. With the Raiders holding the No. 1 pick, it’s widely expected they’ll take Shedeur Sanders, the dynamic quarterback out of Colorado. This leaves the Giants in prime position to snag Cam Ward, the ACC Player of the Year who has dazzled at Miami with over 4,000 passing yards and 36 touchdowns this season.
Trading out of this position would be organizational malpractice. The Giants need a quarterback now more than ever after cutting Daniel Jones midseason and enduring the Drew Lock experience, which has only proven that backups are backups for a reason. Ward or Sanders could finally stabilize a franchise that has been rudderless since Eli Manning hung up his cleats.
Jacobs’ suggestion also ignores the glaring reality of this quarterback class: depth is not its strong suit. Sure, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Quinn Ewers might still be available in the second round, but neither is the kind of polished prospect you’d bet a rebuild on. The Giants aren’t in a position to gamble, especially not after years of failed experiments under center.
While Jacobs’ idea of stockpiling picks may work for teams with fewer glaring needs, it’s completely misaligned with where the Giants are as a franchise. Sure, the roster has holes, but without a quarterback to build around, filling those gaps won’t matter.
The updated draft order should make one thing abundantly clear to the Giants’ front office: staying put at No. 2 is non-negotiable. This pick isn’t just about addressing the quarterback position; it’s about resetting the trajectory of a franchise stuck in perpetual mediocrity.
Trading down would effectively wave the white flag on this opportunity and ensure the same issues plaguing the team now—inept quarterback play and a rudderless offense—persist into the future. Brandon Jacobs may have helped bring two Lombardi Trophies to New York, but his draft plan should be left on the bench. The Giants need their next franchise quarterback, not a pile of mid-round projects.