The New York Giants are making major changes in their quarterback room. Only they are hell bent on improving on that performance this year. New General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll are looking at the likes of other free agent and draft prospects. Their approach shows the wisdom and strategy of their leadership to ensure a long-term solution for the position. In that mix are Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart, all either projecting to be or already considered top prospects in this year’s draft.
Beyond the rookie draft prospects, the Giants had interest in a number of veteran quarterbacks this offseason. Justin Fields and Russell Wilson joined that list as possible free-agent QBs. At the same time, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Aaron Rodgers are being assessed as trade options. The franchise is ready to bet the farm on a young, new QB. They are willing to put contracts of more than $50 million a season on the table.
Schoen and Daboll’s aggressive strategy reflects their commitment to addressing what they have described as the team’s “No. 1 issue”: finding a quarterback capable of leading the franchise into the future. Their conversations involved them meeting Wilson to see his fit as a starter for that team. The Giants were on their second or third attempt to trade up for Stafford. They were unable to finalize an agreement with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants took a surprise big swing with one of their early draft strategy picks, taking Dart. Schoen had watched him throw at the Manning Passing Academy, and he was blown away. Of course, Dart’s selection is only the beginning, but it does provide hope. Yet, he could opt to skip his first-year campaign to hone his skills.
The Giants’ approach is the product of a thoughtful process weighing multiple outcomes, most notably what’s in store for them with the No. Schoen acknowledged the complexity of these choices, stating, “Again, we went through all these scenarios before the day started, what we were going to do at 3 and then at what point we thought it would make sense where it was important for us to hold on to pick 65.”
In March, Jameis Winston signed a $8 million, two-year deal with the New York Giants. This signing enhances the team’s quarterback room even further. Wilson’s contract is particularly noteworthy, as it includes incentives that could enhance his earnings based on performance metrics, such as $2.5 million if he plays 85% of the team’s offensive snaps.
Daboll talked up the new additions and later had praise for the rookie Dart specifically. “I think he’s got a lot of qualities you look for in a good quarterback,” he remarked, emphasizing Dart’s potential to grow into a key player for the team.
The Giants are still obviously in the midst of their reboot with a new quarterback play. Future seasons will tell whether Schoen and Daboll are successful, measured by how well the team performs on the field. Their deep commitment to the process of landing a franchise quarterback dovetails with organizational goals that go much further — to make the team more competitive.
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