The top priority for the New York Giants this offseason is to build back their quarterback room.
They currently do not have any quarterbacks under contract for the 2025 season and will be seeking to add at least three to their preseason 90-man roster this spring and summer.
Who these players could be is anyone’s guess. They hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and will have nearly $60 million in available cap space come March, so they will have plenty of ammunition to add a starter, a decent backup, and a possible future face of the franchise.
General manager Joe Schoen mentioned in his season-ending press conference that he would like to bring back Tommy DeVito, who is an exclusive rights free agent. But he’s a third-string emergency option in this league. They also could re-add Drew Lock and/or Tim Boyle in a pinch as they are familiar with the offense.
It’s not likely that the Giants get involved in the Sam Darnold free agent derby unless they can get him at a discount. Quarterbacks aren’t cheap these days, however, and there is some team out there that is going to overpay.
Here are some other options at quarterback they could consider this offseason.
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As noted above, this seems unlikely. Despite Darnold ending the season with two significant stinkers, he’s arguably the top quarterback available coming off a career-best season. With limited free agent options, plenty of teams will be in the market for him.
If a bidding war ensues, his price will likely skyrocket and the Giants simply can’t afford to overpay for a bridge quarterback. Beyond that, Darnold will try to avoid that scenario in search of a long-term deal.
The Giants will probably dip their toe into the Darnold waters but don’t expect it to go anywhere.
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Every year during the pre-draft process, a player emerges at the NFL Combine or pro days. There could be a quarterback or two that bolsters their draft stock in the underwear Olympics that catches the Giants’ eye. There are players they wouldn’t consider high in the first round but on Days 2 and 3.
There’s a group that has that potential: Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss, and Will Howard of Ohio State to name a few.
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Wanna break the internet? Here’s an easy way to do it. The Giants would have to pivot several times in their thinking for this to happen. They would need their own air traffic controller over MetLife Stadium if they made this move.
Aaron Rodgers is 40, semi-washed, and expensive. The Jets brought him in because they felt he could be the final piece of a contending roster. The Giants aren’t anywhere near contention at the moment and the addition of Rodgers — outside of prolonging many a media career — serves little purpose here other than being a one-year bridge.
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This is based entirely on the assumption that the Saints release Derek Carr, which is beginning to seem like it’s entirely possible.
Signing Carr as a bridge would be a sensible move. He won’t cost much and can actually right a ship that simply needs some stability under center. That being said, he’s been very inconsistent himself recently.
But, he’s still only 34, and, if he can stay healthy, would be an asset for a team grooming a young player at quarterback.
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There will likely be several tiers in the quarterback market this offseason, topped by the aforementioned Darnold. Somewhere in the middle of all that will be cost-effective veterans who would play bridge or serve as a strong backup with experience.
Some of those options will include Teddy Bridgewater, Carson Wentz, Cooper Rush, Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Flacco, and Jameis Winston, among others.
None of these quarterbacks scream, “That’s the answer!” However, they are serviceable options that will likely be affordable.
Of the group, Winston represents the most intriguing name. He’s a boom-or-bust player who will at least take risks down the field and make the Giants’ offense more dynamic. But he may be too turnover-prone for Daboll’s liking.
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Mac Jones likely won’t be back with the Jaguars, so he will be available. Like Wilson, he had a rough go thus far in his career and could be damaged goods. He’s a better option but a lesser talent. No team can look at Jones and believe he’s their long-term answer.
Jones could be an asset as a backup, though. The Giants have plenty of backup options in front of them and it’s a spot they’ll need to address.
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If you’re going to consider Fields, you may as well scour the market for other first-round failures like Zach Wilson. Giant fans would lose it if they brought this kid in but, as we have seen, some players take a bit longer for the light to go on.
Wilson was a mess with the Jets, mainly because the Jets were a mess and he was too young for the spotlight. He was rescued by Sean Payton and the Broncos this year and has had some time to reset his career. He still has a cannon for an arm and is only 25. Put him in the right situation and he could pop.
I can’t be the only one thinking this. This would be a flyer-type, low-risk signing that could work.
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Andy Dalton hasn’t been relevant in a while and there’s no real upside other than to use him as a bridge to get to your next franchise quarterback. If the Giants brought him in for any other reason, you’d have to question their competency.
Dalton, 37, has had his ups and downs in this league and would be a nice mentor for a young quarterback like he was for Bryce Young in Carolina.
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The Giants won’t take Jalen Milroe at No. 3 but rather at No. 34, the second pick in Round 2. That means they’ll either deal the No. 3 pick or perhaps take Colorado two-way sensation Travis Hunter there.
This might be the best of all worlds in the end for the Giants as they can accumulate some more talent and still have a decent QB room should they add a veteran alongside the drafting of Milroe.
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Same deal as Ward. Shedeur Sanders may not make it to No. 3. If he does, the Giants have to take a long look. If anything, he’ll draw fan interest at the very least. The Giants will likely bring in a veteran to hold the door for any rookie, so there won’t be a ton of pressure on him.
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With the two teams selecting before them (Tennessee and Cleveland) in the market for quarterbacks, Cam Ward isn’t likely to fall to No. 3. If he does, the Giants have to grab him regardless of what plans they had already made.
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Again, you’re not marrying the guy. Just bringing him in like they did Kurt Warner back in 2004. Kirk Cousins should be available for very cheap because he carries a base salary of $27.5 million for 2025.
Cousins could be very good or very bad depending on what you’re used to at quarterback. The Giants haven’t gotten much out of their quarterbacks the past few years, so he’s an upgrade. Of course, they would do this in addition to adding a rookie to their roster.
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Either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, both impending free agents, will be out in Pittsburgh this offseason, possibly both. The Giants need an experienced quarterback to line up under center in Week 1. Both of these guys can do that and be effective in a Brian Daboll offense that contains an exciting core of young weapons (Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Theo Johnson, Tyrone Tracy Jr.).
Of course, this would be in conjunction with the arrival of a rookie quarterback they plan on developing.
