The New York Giants have endured the NFL's dirty little secret life that really isn't much of a secret at all.
To get closer to the chance of acquiring a franchise quarterback in the draft, you've got to lose. You've got to lose a lot.
And you've got to keep losing. It's hard to stomach that reality for ownership, for a fan base disgusted with all that losing, for a locker room desperate to feel that emotional high of a win again and for the job security of everyone involved, most notably general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
So how do you survive as a team if the key to survival and sustaining success in today's game is losing as much as you can in order to get the best shot at the quarterbacks who can change everything?
It's a near-impossible challenge, and here the Giants are again as we enter the NFL Draft, which begins with the first round Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin: they are still searching for a franchise QB and, sitting with the No. 3 overall pick, there is no consensus path toward a solution to what co-owner John Mara called out as an offseason priority the day after last season ended.
This is the Giants' reality: Cam Ward, the consensus No. 1 quarterback in this class, will be off the board to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1. After that, the debate continues to rage on over which QB, if any, is the right fit.
Advertisement
"None of these guys are perfect," The Athletic's draft analyst Dane Brugler said with a laugh. "There’s a lot to like about them, but it just depends on what you are looking for and who is looking.”
For the Giants, the decision not only rests from a talent perspective, but value in terms of pick placement and other draft assets - especially if a potential trade is required to get to within striking distance of making that selection.
"It's okay to disagree," Daboll said Monday, referencing what goes on during the evaluation process behind closed doors in debates between the scouting department, the personnel department, the coaching staff and - yes - ultimately ownership when it comes to the quarterback position. "You're not going to be disagreeable. Everybody has thoughts and opinions of what they evaluate and what they see."
Where do things stand for the Giants on the eve of the draft? The expectation one day out is that the Giants will select either Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter at No. 3.
Advertisement
Sources close to the situation in conversations with NorthJersey.com and The Record have cautioned nothing is finalized, meaning the door remains open to other options should they present themselves.
Here's our primer on the quarterbacks believed to be in play and the factors involved in team brass' pursuit of those prospects:
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Trust, timing, anticipation, tenacity – Sanders has all of that along with an aggressive mind set to attack downfield. He's a program-builder, so to speak, having led unexpected resurgences at Jackson State and Colorado. The questions revolve around his lack of elite traits, certainly a twist of fate given that his coach and father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, is one of the most gifted athletes to ever play in the NFL.
Advertisement
There is also the presence of Coach Prime that some refuse to back away from. In terms of Shedeur, the Giants have done the most work on him of any team in the draft. They've been to his practices, attended every one of his games in some capacity and met with him at the East/West Shrine Bowl, the Combine, on a pre-draft visit to New Jersey and a private workout in Boulder. In addition to many connections to vital intel on Sanders, former Giants coach Pat Shurmur was his OC there and Maileka Slayton - yes, wide receiver Darius' sister - is the director of on-campus recruiting for Colorado football.
The Giants like Sanders. The unknown is whether they'd still consider him at No. 3 or a trade back into the first round if he slides into a range where they can get to. The Steelers have been talked up recently as a potential landing spot.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
There have been reports from SNY and ESPN that Daboll "likes" Dart in recent days. You know the Giants and their love for quarterbacks from Ole Miss. The 21-year-old will be the youngest QB in the NFL next year, but he also has a ton of playing experience with 45 college starts. There are loose Giants connections at Ole Miss with Dart, for sure: offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and senior analyst Joe Judge were both name-dropped by the QB at the Combine.
Advertisement
Weis is the son of longtime coach and his namesake, while Judge was the head coach of the Giants for two years.
Dart finished fourth in SEC history in total offense (12,115), fourth in total offense per play (8.14), fifth in total offense per game (310.6) and ninth in passing yards (10,617). He is also the all-time winningest starting QB in school history ahead of Archie and Eli Manning.
The uncertainty projecting Dart to the NFL comes down to his post-snap reads and whether he can move through progressions fast enough at the next level after not doing much of that in Lane Kiffin's offense. The Giants could take the same path for Dart as they would Sanders outside of No. 3 overall. What I like about Dart: he has an edge to him and a Baker Mayfield-like swagger that could serve him well, especially if he has to wait until the top of the second round.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Milroe has had his ups and downs at Alabama. Yet there should be no debate: when things have been rolling, his game is electric. You want to talk about traits: he's the best running QB to come out since Lamar Jackson and, if he can improve the accuracy of his intermediate passing game - a huge key to NFL success - Milroe has the highest ceiling of any signal caller in the class.
Advertisement
There's no question Milroe will benefit from a year honing his game in the pros, and the Giants have set up a room that might allow for that with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston added. Can the Giants afford to wait until No. 34 - two picks into the second round Friday night - to pull the trigger on Milroe if they are interested? He's a lottery ticket that other teams may view similarly. The Browns and Steelers have been mentioned as possible suitors.
Tyler Shough, Louisville
Shough is an interesting test to what teams want at quarterback. He'll be 26 during his rookie season, and despite an injury history that needs to be checked out, the tools are there. Strong arm. Good mobility to make things happen with his legs. His journey to the NFL is a long-ish and winding one. He visited the Giants and has had a very good pre-draft process, including a private workout with them at Louisville last weekend, emerging as a potential Day 2 pick. The Saints could be eyeing Shough and Dart.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
McCord's only year at Syracuse after transferring from Ohio State was exceptional. His 4,779 passing yards was not only the FBS leader for the season, but he also broke the all-time ACC record. He set school records in attempts (592), completions (391) and touchdown passes (34). I've heard some Brock Purdy comps with McCord, who could be successful in the right system and some patience. He spent a lot of time with the Giants' offensive staff and front office during a pre-draft visit to NJ last week. Would he be an option with one of Big Blue's two third-round picks?
