Although it was fairly clear the Giants preferred Aaron Rodgers, they signed Russell Wilson to be their expected Week 1 starter. Wilson may well have preferred to stay in Pittsburgh, but his 2024 team is still pursuing Rodgers, leading to this marriage of convenience.
Reeling after making the mistake of re-signing Daniel Jones, thus pushing a failed investment to six years, the Giants have Wilson and Jameis Winston as stopgaps while they determine if this is the year to draft a potential long-term option. Although both Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are on hot seats, the franchise choosing the wrong year to draft a passer brought significant consequences last time.
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Some around the league are indeed wondering if the Giants’ Wilson addition means they are skeptical on this year’s non-Cam Ward options, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Wilson move does provide flexibility for a reeling team, as the Giants would have been less likely to pass on Shedeur Sanders had they not landed the aging QB. And others are not convinced the Giants are out on a QB at No. 3.
As of now, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller hears quarterback is likely to be Big Blue’s direction with the third overall pick. A scout informed Miller the Giants’ interest in Sanders is the “worst-kept secret in the league right now.” Linked to the two-year Colorado starter in the fall, the Giants have remained connected to a polarizing prospect — one they arranged a visit with in early February. The team had staffers in attendance at every Buffaloes home game last season, Miller adds. Of course, with Travis Hunter also spending two years in Boulder, it is not exactly surprising to learn of consistent Giants attendance.
Ward has separated himself in this QB class, but if the Giants pass on Sanders, they may be locked out of top second-tier options. Barring a trade-up, Jaxson Dart is unlikely to be available when the Giants go back on the clock (No. 34). Dart first-round buzz has persisted, with Miller and ESPN colleague Field Yates viewing the Ole Miss product as a near-certainty to be a first-round pick. Some teams have Dart ranked second among QBs on their respective big boards, ESPN’s Jordan Reid adds. That adds intrigue to the Sanders situation.
A recent report indicated a fall out of the top 10 is unlikely for Sanders, even as doubts creep in about a player not possessing his father’s generational athletic gifts. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Sanders as this year’s 18th-best prospect — with Ward 10th. The Titans would be passing on a top-tier prospect by selecting Ward, and with the Browns and Giants’ decision-makers in more desperate situations, positional need makes it somewhat difficult to imagine both teams will pass.
Sanders still led Division I-FBS with a 74% completion rate and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors, finishing with a 37:10 TD-INT ratio and posing 4,134 passing yards. Despite Deion Sanders‘ historically elite speed, his son is not a running quarterback; Shedeur finished with negative rushing yards in both his FBS seasons.
Sanders’ perceived lower athletic ceiling has helped separate he and Ward, putting the Browns to a decision. The Browns have been closely linked to Abdul Carter. The draft going Ward-Carter would put the Giants to a seemingly Colorado-based decision, as Hunter would arrive as a splashy addition — at either WR or CB — while his longtime teammate would generate questions and begin behind Wilson.
A Giants depth chart with Wilson, Winston and Sanders would seem unrealistic, potentially leading Winston to the trade block in a situation that would remind of the Jets’ Teddy Bridgewater move in 2018. The Jets traded up for Sam Darnold and traded Bridgewater to the Saints for a third-round pick before that season, keeping Josh McCown as the rookie’s backup. Wilson rightfully expects to be the Giants’ starter, but it does appear likely he will mentor a rookie — even if the Giants pass on Sanders at 3.
After the Broncos cut Wilson and the Steelers did not show much interest in retaining him, the QB canvassed the league about a fit with Daboll, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. The Giants obviously did the same. Wilson’s one-year contract includes $10.5MM guaranteed and contains incentives that could vault the value to $21MM.
If Wilson plays 65% of the Giants’ offensive snaps, he will earn an additional $500K, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who adds an additional $1MM would come his way for a 75% snap rate. A $2MM bump would be due if Wilson hits the 85% snap barrier. Performance-wise, Wilson can earn $500K with a passer rating above 96.0 and another $500K if he reaches a 64% completion rate. A 20-plus-TD pass season and carrying a passer rating north of 88 nets him another $500K as well. Wilson posted passer ratings of 98.0 and 95.6 over the past two seasons.
The Giants making the playoffs during a season in which Wilson plays 55% of the snaps would lead to a $750K payout. A 75% participation rate and a playoff berth nets Wilson $1.5MM. Another million in incentives comes with playoff wins. The Giants have also incentivized regular-season victories, as Breer adds Wilson playing 50% of the snaps in any regular-season win would bring a $176K bump.
Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Shedeur Sanders all in one quarterback room should require the Giants to do Hard Knocks again if it happens. Just an unprecedented amount of personality in one quarterback group.
That would be the most-watched Hard Knocks ever.
I’m glad the Giants signed Wilson and not the Steelers. He’s washed , as is Rodgers. Hoping the Steelers don’t sign him. We already had one prima Donna qb in roethlisberger. Go with Rudolph. And please Rooney wake up out of your coma and get rid of Tomlin.
With no Rodgers or Russ the Steelers are out of options. The cupboard is bare. Mason Rudolph is not a starting level QB in the NFL.
For one year Rudolph will do then when they have that’s RCT SAID. 3-14 record. That should wake up Rooney. We Steelers fans are far from delusional. Tomlin has too much power. Not even Noll had that power. And Dan Rooney forced Noll several times to make coaching changes in the down 80s years. You aren’t from Pittsburgh I presume. So actually all you see is what the national Media that praises Tomlin. You can win playing 70s offense in 2025. That’s Tomlins downfall. Plus after Ben retired he could not develope a younger QB. He’s an albatross to the Steelers. Once the model NFL franchise, now it’s a laughing stick.
Man, some Steelers fans are so delusional. “Go with Rudolph”, “get rid of Tomlin”. lmao that is a fast track to a 3-14 record. If you want that for a full rebuild, OK. But that’s not happening when you just acquired DK Metcalf.
Rudolph has played well for the Steelers. He needs a mentor and a backer to take his game to the next level. The difficult seasons he’s lived in the NFL might have ruined him, we don’t know.