This week, the New York Giants adopted a scattergun strategy in their pursuit of quarterbacks in tier B, choosing not to await the expected union between Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, they quickly secured both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston within a few days, integrating them with Tommy DeVito in their roster.
Although this might appear to affect nobody specifically since many other team’s quarterback scenarios across the league are relatively stable, all attention quickly shifted to Colorado draft prospect Shedeur Sanders.
Earlier this week, prior to Wilson joining the Giants,
I outlined a plan
This involved signing both Wilson and Winston, along with selecting Colorado standout Travis Hunter as the third pick. At their position, Wilson and Winston serve as complementary players style-wise, and I believe their combined ability to throw long passes could help address several fundamental problems within the offense and enhance the skills of both Hunter and Malik Nabers.
Certainly, choosing Hunter implies that the Giants went with him.
not
Consider Sanders. If we assume that the Tennessee Titans, who had their city’s mayor attend Cameron Ward’s pro day, select another quarterback with the top pick, this scenario might highlight the intrigue surrounding the first round of the NFL draft on April 24 in Green Bay. Where will the NCAA’s most notable quarterback land?
So far, several potential outcomes have emerged clearly. We should review these and allocate a probability rating to each scenario.
1. After concluding that the Browns were likely to select Shedeur Sanders, the Giants decided to sign Wilson instead.
At this stage of the NFL draft, it’s incredibly difficult to see through the persistent fog created by speculation…unless the player in focus happens to be the offspring of a well-known figure who seems to be publicly expressing hopes for their child’s career trajectory. Is it possible that the Giants received insider information suggesting that Deion Sanders and Kevin Stefanski might join forces with the aim of erasing the negative impact left behind by Deshaun Watson’s period in Cleveland?
Probability (on a scale of 10): 2
Why:
In my view, this is how things stand for the Cleveland team. They have two options: they can place a big bet by selecting Sanders with the second pick, or if we assume the Titans go for Ward, then the Browns will be able to choose from the top available position players like Abdul Carter or Hunter, along with acquiring Kirk Cousins.
Hold on… Cousins, you mean? According to colleague Albert Breer, Cousins—a quarterback who had an extensive stint collaborating with present Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski during their time in Minnesota—has opted to wait and see how the draft unfolds before pushing for a trade from the Atlanta Falcons. This decision comes following his benching by the Falcons last year; he aims to avoid merely becoming a placeholder veteran who ends up sidelined mid-season as fans grow impatient.
Clearly, Cousins is perfectly suited for Cleveland’s offensive system. Throughout the preseason, I’ve maintained that much of his struggle in Atlanta stemmed from him still recuperating from a significant injury the previous year and adapting to a novel Zac Robinson scheme that demanded greater agility and movement from the quarterback position—something he wasn’t fully capable of providing at the time. Given the right setup, Cousins holds substantial upside compared to many other quarterbacks who remain available as free agents with less appealing prospects.
Although Sanders’s first professional deal might offer the Browns some respite from the financial constraints imposed by Watson, Cousins will bring instant stability and could serve as a short-to-medium term solution until either an ideal replacement for Watson becomes available through the draft, or to evaluate whether Watson can return effectively for the 2026 season.
If I were the owner and management of the Cleveland team, I would be contemplating the potential for another disappointing journey with a new rookie quarterback, which could evoke memories similar to those left by the roughly 40 quarterbacks previously selected by this franchise (considering how devastatingly heavy it feels adding yet another unsuccessful draft pick after Watson remains on the roster). Alternatively, I might place faith in Cousins improving our chances in several significant games during 2025, leaving us better positioned when Watson returns from his absence along with an enhanced pool of prospects in subsequent drafts.
2. The Giants continue to intend on selecting Sanders in the draft.
Alright, the Giants have secured both Wilson and Winston, but Winston’s contract isn’t entirely secure. Should Sanders drop to the third pick, the Giants will likely release Winston and gain an amount equivalent to what the quarterback would earn at their new location through offset language. So, ifSanders ends up being available at number three and the Giants proceed with picking him, they’ll be aware that releasing Winston is part of this plan.
Probability (on a scale of 10): 4
Combining Sanders with Wilson would be a
very
The Giants brought in Kurt Warner to prepare for the arrival of Eli Manning. However, Warner went on to have an outstanding career after leaving the Giants, competing for another Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals as their starting quarterback. In contrast, Wilson currently represents a lower-risk, temporary solution for the team.
Nevertheless, Wilson stands out as the most seasoned quarterback available aside from Aaron Rodgers and might understand how to maneuver through the cutthroat environment of the NFL and the fame-filled realm that Sanders is also familiar with. One aspect I appreciate (to an extent) regarding the Giants’ current quarterback situation is its flexibility. If the team goes through their pre-draft evaluations and develops a strong preference for Sanders, they can release Winston financially without much hassle, making Wilson the primary starter with Sanders positioned as the backup contender.
If the Giants ultimately decide against signing Sanders, they can rely on Wilson, a solid interim option, as their starting quarterback. Behind him sits a dynamic backup capable of handling several series effectively if Wilson struggles or gets hurt. Rounding out the roster is Tommy DeVito, the third-stringer, who can run at least a simplified version of Brian Daboll’s playbook when called upon. This lineup isn’t quite like the deep-throwing squads from Green Bay, yet it’s definitely an upgrade over a rotation featuring Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and DeVito.
3. The Giants had decided not to select Sanders and intended to draft either Carter or Hunter with their third pick, along with choosing a promising developmental player later in the middle rounds.
If we’re generous, the Giants require significant improvements across roughly half of their 22 starting positions on both sides of the ball. Hunter provides an instant boost for two critical roles concurrently, whereas Carter introduces the team to a promising yet recognizable scenario: a formidable trio at the defensive end spot reminiscent of past successful trios like Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora in 2007, followed by Tuck, Umenyiora, and Jason Pierre-Paul in ’10. This also brings back memories from the ‘21 draft where the Giants missed out on selecting Micah Parsons but managed to pick up Kadarius Toney and Evan Neal the next year. There’s still room for discussion regarding potentially drafting another offensive lineman first overall in the ’25 draft, which might shorten Neal’s tenure with the team. Could their attraction to Sanders be part of broader strategic maneuvering?
Probability (on a scale of 10): 6
The Giants have no obligation to express their opinion on Sanders at this moment. In contrast to the Titans, who must rally support behind Ward and present a united front while building excitement, the Giants can proceed with their evaluation openly and consider all potential offers.
I believe the team’s stance mirrors that of the pre-Caleb Williams Chicago Bears, albeit with a significantly weaker pool of quarterbacks available and fewer attractive assets at their disposal. Consequently, I feel that the urgency within the organization to select a quarterback differs from how it appears externally to observers like ourselves. The strategy for successfully integrating a young quarterback has evolved, leaning towards waiting until after the squad shows signs of improvement before investing in an eventual franchise signal-caller. Thus, this might turn out to be the Giants’ rising phase rather than a moment when they choose a new quarterback.
Unlike the Bears, it stops the team from making a crucial choice at football’s pivotal spot while dealing with potentially a lameduck head coaching period. Frankly, I believe this aspect hasn’t gotten as much attention as needed. Should Daboll gain lasting credibility post-season, he can select a quarterback in 2026 following his work securing the trenches along with the receiving corps and secondary units in ’25. This creates a more nurturing setting for an inexperienced signal-caller.
4. Looking back, this discussion appears somewhat absurd, considering Sanders is likely to drop even more substantially than we first anticipated.
In this article, we haven’t mentioned yet how athletically gifted Sanders is. The manner in which he maintains his focus downfield while utilizing his agility mirrors some top-tier quarterbacks in the NFL. Additionally, his physical resilience stood out consistently, and his ability to exploit defenders with his leg movements inside the opponent’s 20-yard line can be particularly overwhelming.
He may not possess certain premium attributes like size and strong arm strength, which could make teams like the Giants hesitant about selecting Sanders with their third overall pick due to how much they’ve historically relied on these factors when evaluating quarterbacks. These points aren’t mutually exclusive; however, together they might lead to his position slipping outside the top three selections.
Probability (on a scale of 10): 7
I’ve consistently viewed Sanders as ideally suited for a squad that boasts a solid, established head coach. Alternatively, he’d be great for a team that doesn’t usually pick within the first ten slots or frequently.
meh
Currently having an option at the center position, we might opt for a quarterback still developing into their role and be prepared for the heightened media scrutiny that accompanies choosing the offspring of Deion Sanders—an individual highly visible in the media landscape. This choice may lead to public statements from them regarding their feelings about their son Shedeur’s status. Alternatively, another team passing up early selections yet welcoming a fresh head coach aiming to implement something akin to a “Packers-style” backup quarterback strategy.
Which teams align best with those criteria?
• Pittsburgh Steelers:
Spend a couple of seasons backing up Aaron Rodgers (presumably) and come out as a more polished quarterback under the protective guidance of Mike Tomlin’s team environment.
• Las Vegas Raiders:
Spend a season observing Geno Smith from the sidelines and find yourself as the latest protege of former NFL coach Chip Kelly, known for his extensive experience in college football. Throughout this period, the media-savvy and composed Pete Carroll encourages Sanders to compete for the starting position while maintaining a calm environment within the team.
• New York Jets:
Spend a season observing Justin Fields from the sidelines and let Sanders benefit from Aaron Glenn’s protection. As a previous standout NFL defensive back, Glenn has embraced his ex-boss Dan Campbell’s strict coaching style. This shift might transform the Jets from a squad desperately lacking in talent to one with solid prospects.
• New Orleans Saints:
Kellen Moore secures insurance for Derek Carr and faces no penalties for leading the team to victory in several games during his debut season as the head coach of a squad competing in a particularly weak division.
• Miami Dolphins:
As the Dolphins look to make the most of the remaining time with Tyreek Hill, this will be the final season for Tua Tagovailoa under contract when considering the significant cap hit from dead money, making it difficult to manage. Following this year, Miami could view their starting QB as someone they can potentially do without if he doesn’t meet expectations.
• Los Angeles Rams:
The pinnacle of mayhem for a quarterback could unfold as Sanders moves from one major media hub to another… ultimately landing with Sean McVay, who is known as the mastermind behind some of the NFL’s most skilled quarterbacks.
This piece was initially published on
www.si.com
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Russell Wilson’s Departure Opens Up Four Exciting Possibilities for Shedeur Sanders
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