The New York Giants aren’t exactly known for their subtlety when it comes to the NFL Draft. Last year, they spent months hyping up their love for J.J. McCarthy, only to take Malik Nabers at No. 6 overall. Now, history might be repeating itself—except this time, they’re making it painfully obvious who their guy is.
According to multiple reports, the Giants have their sights locked on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the third overall pick. Insiders across the league are “convinced” that Sanders is New York’s top target, with ESPN’s Jordan Raanan even going as far as saying:
"Multiple league insiders are convinced the Giants have their sights on Sanders, but that would not necessarily keep the team from targeting a more experienced option at the position. The Giants had Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner as their starter when they drafted Eli Manning with the No. 1 pick.”
Translation? Shedeur might be Plan A, but the Giants are leaving the door open to a veteran—whether that’s through free agency or a trade. And let’s be real, that would make a lot of sense given the mess at quarterback last season.
The Giants are either all-in on Shedeur… or they want you to think they are
New York’s infatuation with Sanders isn’t exactly shocking. He was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football last season, leading the nation with a 74.0% completion rate and throwing for over 4,100 yards.
But here’s the issue—everyone knows the Giants need a quarterback, and everyone knows they’re interested in Shedeur. They’ve scouted him relentlessly. They’ve reportedly been enamored with him for months. They’re basically holding up a neon sign that says “Hey, we love this guy.” That kind of transparency isn’t exactly a masterclass in draft strategy.
So what’s the endgame here?
Of course, Sanders isn't the only name in play. The Giants have been linked to a potential trade for Matthew Stafford, a move that would immediately stabilize the offense and make them more competitive in the short term. Stafford isn’t a long-term solution, but he’d give them a proven, Super Bowl-winning quarterback to build around while they figure out their next move. If the Rams’ asking price isn’t insane, it’s an option that has to be considered.
Then there’s the free agency route, with former first-round pick Justin Fields sitting as an intriguing option. Fields showed flashes of improvement in Pittsburgh last year, and his dual-threat ability would add an element to the Giants’ offense they thought they might have had with Daniel Jones. The problem? Other teams are sniffing around Fields, and a bidding war could drive up his price. Do the Giants really want to get into a fight with their crosstown rivals over a quarterback with major question marks?
If Sanders is truly their guy, they might be banking on the fact that neither the Tennessee Titans nor the Cleveland Browns will take him before No. 3. But if this is all smoke and mirrors, maybe they’re hoping a QB-desperate team jumps them for Sanders—leaving someone like Colorado's Travis Hunter or Penn State’s Abdul Carter sitting there at No. 3.
Either way, the Giants aren’t being subtle. Whether it’s a smokescreen or genuine interest, we’ll find out soon enough.