Giants must find their next franchise quarterback, but GM Joe Schoen won't act recklessly

PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Giants need their franchise quarterback. They know that. Jameis Winston is an entertaining backup. Russell Wilson is a serviceable bridge. There’s nothing on the other side, though – no future. At least not yet.

General manager Joe Schoen would love to get that player in this year’s draft. Organically at No. 3: Perfect. Aggressive trade up: He’ll never shy away from big swings, by his own admission, at the position.

What he won’t do is force the issue. He made that abundantly clear at the NFL’s annual meeting on Monday.

So if he can’t move up for Cam Ward, or he doesn’t believe Shedeur Sanders is that guy, then the quarterback of the future will have to wait.

“You want to put them in there and say, ‘Hey, here is our franchise quarterback,’” Schoen said. “There’s got to be one available and they’ve got to check a lot of boxes.”

John Mara cranked the heat underneath Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll’s seats to thermonuclear levels during a searing postseason news conference. He’s mortified at what this storied franchise has become. The Giants, owners of the league’s worst record since 2017, must turn it around, and turn it around fast.

Mara said he expects progress. He wants wins. He needs them to find their franchise signal-caller. He’s out of patience.

The Giants co-owner did not speak at the NFL’s annual meeting, a rarity, but Schoen stressed he talks to him daily. Mara and Steve Tisch are on board with his plan. It’s evident that while these are desperate times, and the Giants will fire Schoen and Daboll if things don’t turn around in 2025, he will not act recklessly.

He won’t draft a quarterback to simply check a box. Only if he, and the rest of his staff, believe he can win “the NFC East every year and your ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl.”

Most evaluators agree: Ward is the consensus top quarterback in this class. He’ll almost assuredly go No. 1 overall to the Titans. The Giants had measured internal confidence they could get up to No. 1 to take Ward at the NFL Combine in February, but those good feelings are gone. The Titans got their hands on Ward. Now, they want him for themselves.

Sanders is the next name. This isn’t like 2024, though, where the Commanders and Patriots took Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye after Caleb Williams went first overall to the Bears. Deion’s son is among the most polarizing prospects in this year’s class. Some believe he’s a first-round pick. Others favor Jaxson Dart, and even Jalen Milroe, over him. Almost all agree: Sanders is not worthy of a top-five selection. Any team that picks him there is desperate.

Granted, that’s a topic relevant only on draft day and if Sanders were to fail. Conviction is all that matters when it comes to selecting at that position.

Schoen didn’t say it, but he laid the groundwork to justify passing on Sanders at No. 3: The Giants very well might not have any conviction.

Not having a long-term answer at quarterback isn’t ideal for the Giants, but passing on Sanders would drop one of the top two prospects in Schoen’s lap. Ward is the top quarterback. He’s not the top player. Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter are. It’s hard to see Carter getting past the Browns at No. 2, but Hunter could give the Giants a lockdown corner and interesting weapon for Daboll’s offense.

That offense, which ranked 31st overall last year, has Wilson as its only new starter – a risky gamble considering jobs are on the line. Hunter, even if limited to a dozen or so offensive snaps, would help. Most believe his NFL future is at full-time cornerback and part-time wideout.

The Giants met with and saw Ward’s pro day, absent Daboll, whom Schoen said doesn’t attend Pro Days (although he has gone to some in the past). They have not yet had the same work with Sanders. He will hold his Pro Day at Colorado on Friday. After that, the Giants can schedule visits, meetings, and private workouts.

They very well could fall in love with Sanders after that. If they do he’ll be the pick at three.

If they don’t, Schoen will go elsewhere.

And wait to find the franchise’s future.