The New York Giants own the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft, and several prominent analysts believe Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders will be available for the taking at that spot.
However, several of those same analysts now believe New York will pass on the opportunity.
At the top of that list is Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN, who has the Giants skipping over Sanders with the third pick and going instead with his teammate wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter. The notion of Hunter and Malik Nabers lining up on both sides of the offense is intriguing with the right quarterback, who head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen must hit on this offseason for the sake of their long-term job security.
"I'm sure Giants fans would raise their eyebrows at seeing New York pass on Sanders," Kiper wrote. "First, there are mixed feelings on him around the league, and he isn't seen as a surefire top-five pick. The front office and coaching staff have to win right now, and banking their futures on the class's QB2 might not get it done."
"Second, I'm not ready to close the door on the Giants bypassing this lackluster QB class in favor of a veteran option," Kiper continued. "Could New York trade for Matthew Stafford? Would signing Sam Darnold fix the issue? There are options here."
Stafford makes sense, and the Giants could perhaps acquire him via a first-round pick swap with the Los Angeles Rams who own the 26th selection. However, landing Stafford and No. 26 would takesHunter out of New York's huddle, and the team would still have to foot the bill for the type of extension Stafford is looking for -- rumored at around $50 million annually on a multiyear deal.
Signing Darnold, on the other hand, would allow the Giants to keep the third pick and draft a player like Hunter who can help them win immediately. Darnold would only cost New York the pricey contract, which Spotrac projects at four years and $160 million total.
Beyond that, Tom Brady -- the newest minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders -- has been rumored to have recruited Stafford recently at a ski resort in Montana.
There are conflicting reports in that regard, but any type of meaningful interest in Stafford on the Raiders' part would be another obstacle to the Giants acquiring the 37-year-old signal-caller.
