The New York Giants hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but there is a potential pathway where the franchise turns to a veteran signal-caller over a rookie. One option is the Giants could use their first-round pick on another position and pursue a quarterback either via NFL free agency or trade.
Bleacher Report's Maurice Moton offered several predictions for a few blockbuster NFL trades that could happen this offseason. One proposed trade has the Giants striking a deal for a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
The deal has the Giants trading cornerback Cor'Dale Flott and a 2025 fourth-round pick in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
New York would land Kirk Cousins in the NFL trade pitch with the Falcons after an underwhelming season in Atlanta. The Giants trading for a veteran would not necessarily take them out of the quarterback sweepstakes in the NFL draft, but New York's top two options could be off the board by the third pick.
There is a chance both Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward could be selected before the Giants are on the clock.
"If the Giants watch quarterbacks come off the board before they're on the clock with the No. 3 pick, general manager Joe Schoen shouldn't reach for a signal-caller in a class discussed as a weaker group compared to last year's crop of passers," Moton wrote on Monday.
"The Giants don't have a quarterback under contract for 2025, so they will likely add a veteran with significant starting experience. Because of Cousins' age and subpar 2024 season, Big Blue may be able to acquire him in exchange for a fourth-round pick."
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) January 9, 2025Here is Falcons GM Terry Fontenot saying he's perfectly comfortable with Kirk Cousins being a $100-million backup QB in ‘25
$100-million… not playing a single down pic.twitter.com/VbXiDZhBsF
Flott started 17 games for the Giants over the last two seasons, including 10 contests in 2024. As for Cousins, the former Pro Bowler's four-year, $180 million contract is slated to run through the 2027 season.
The argument for Cousins is that the veteran could have a better 2025 after being two seasons removed from the Achilles injury he sustained with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. If the Giants were to pursue Cousins, the front office would be wise to push the Falcons to eat some of the quarterback's deal.
