Just under two weeks before the 2025 NFL Draft and the news has yet to stop. In this case, Friday morning brought some news that will directly impact the New York Giants and their early drafting.
Sitting pretty at pick no. 3 overall, the Giants likely have their preference between one of Colorado's Travis Hunter and Penn State's Abdul Carter. Just in front of them, though, are the Cleveland Browns. Is there still a chance they take a quarterback, thus giving the Giants a choice between two blue-chip players?
Not anymore.
The Cleveland Browns have brought back veteran quarterback Joe Flacco for the 2025 season, joining Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett in the room.
First of all, this signing will directly impact the Giants at no. 3 overall.
Joe Flacco signing with the Browns takes a coveted draft choice off the table for the Giants
In all likelihood, this cements the fact that Cleveland is not going to entertain quarterback at no. 2 overall. It would have probably been a reach, anyways, if the Browns had taken Shedeur Sanders.
But now? It's not happening. You can bet on it.
The Browns will get their choice between Carter and Hunter after the Tennessee Titans take Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
This very well could take the Giants' preferred choice off the table. Assuming it's Hunter, the Giants will then have to settle for Carter.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it influences the Giants' choice nonetheless.
Now, onto the second round where the Giants have a more favorable position.
The Browns pick at no. 33 overall in the second round with the Giants directly behind at no. 34. Cleveland having three quarterbacks, once again, will probably cement the fact that they aren't going to select one here.
This would have been an ideal area for Cleveland to go with someone like Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss. Instead, the Giants might just get their chance at Dart, assuming he doesn't shoot up draft boards and sneak into the first round.
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Having Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston shouldn't prevent the Giants from drafting a quarterback that high, and if Dart is there, he's the perfect pick at that point.
Dart has a lot of the characteristics you look for in an NFL quarterback. But, he would likely benefit by sitting a year. It could be the best first step in his pro development to sit and learn as a rookie.
This way, the Giants get their blue-chip player in the first round and a potential long-term solution at quarterback in the second.
Had the Browns not signed Flacco, then a quarterback would still be very much in the realm of possibilities for Cleveland to kick off Round 2.