Giants Among Round 1 Trade Candidates

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen might not win the offseason, but he’s set out to prevent disaster and thus far has been successful.

The Giants entered the offseason without a starting quarterback and without the No. 1 pick necessary to guarantee their top passer. Schoen signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, elevating the floor of the 2025 team without disqualifying a potential Shedeur Sanders selection.

He also significantly improved the defenses, adding to the team’s depth in the front seven and reshaping the secondary with safety Jevon Holland and corner Paulson Adebo. That won’t take corner/receiver Travis Hunter off the team’s board, and one can never have enough pass rushers, meaning Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is in play, too.

In filling major holes and addressing the quarterback position early, Schoen has allowed himself to pivot away from Sanders if necessary.

“General manager Joe Schoen seemed to be greasing the skids at the league meeting about the No. 3 pick, stressing they would go quarterback only ‘if the value was right,’” Jordan Reid wrote. “So, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are not out of the picture as the Giants' first-rounder.”

New York can reasonably pass on Sanders, taking a blue-chip talent instead. Sanders doesn’t need a redshirt and the Giants are positioned well to sit a quarterback for the duration of the season. They’re insulated from injury, too, as they can turn to Winston if disaster strikes.

That lends itself to the possibility of New York taking a Day 2 passer like Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe. Both have made reasonable cases to be taken in the second round, but the Quarterback Industrial Complex might push either one into Round 1. The Pittsburgh Steelers, at No. 21, still need a franchise quarterback, the Cleveland Browns can take one to kick off in Day 2, and teams could look to jump into the Thursday festivities for a fifth-year option.

Fortunately, the Giants’ flexibility opens the door for Schoen to make a draft-day trade for a late-first-round quarterback.

“The addition of quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason gives the Giants flexibility to add the best player on their board at No. 3, then potentially trade back into the first round for a quarterback,” Reid wrote.

Giving up extra draft capital to take a second-round passer isn’t great process, but if New York can find upside at quarterback while taking one of Hunter or Carter, it’s easy to label Schoen as a winner of the NFL Draft.