The New York Giants’ pre-draft quarterback strategy is meant to protect the franchise in the event of any unexpected situations that might arise during the 2025 NFL draft.
On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 13:50 mark), The Athletic’s Dianna Russini explained the Giants’ private workouts with Shedeur Sanders and other top quarterback prospects is about “being prepared for as many situations that can happen” in the draft.
Russini added the workout isn’t likely tied to them considering a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, where the organization is “in lockstep” and “they know what they’re doing” at that spot.
Per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the list of quarterbacks who scheduled private workouts with the Giants one week out from the draft included Sanders, Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe.
While it’s not unusual for teams to hold private workouts with draft-eligible players, the Giants’ timing raised some eyebrows.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters on Wednesday the reasoning for the workouts was connected to the timing of the draft and Colorado scheduling a late pro day:
“It’s a unique calendar year. I think the draft is as early as it can be, that Thursday in April being the 24th. If you’re speaking specifically of Colorado, their Pro Day was April 4. With the April 4 Pro Day of Colorado, we were already in meetings. When I left you guys at the owners’ meetings (at the end of March), we started (draft meetings)that Wednesday. That’s how the calendar is for us every year.
“It was unusual that a Pro Day was that late, and we had to stop meetings to go to Boulder. But these private workouts have been in place.”
B/R’s NFL scouting department is projecting the Giants will end up using the No. 3 pick on Penn State edge Abdul Carter. Their second pick at 34 is projected to be Milroe, giving the organization a potential long-term option at quarterback.
New York has given itself options going into the 2025 season by signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency. This allows the front office to take whomever they deem to be the best player with their first pick, then address quarterbacks either by potentially trading back into the first round later on or waiting until early in the second round.
It’s not a bad strategy to employ for a franchise that has so many positional needs to fill and shouldn’t pass on a potential transcendent talent that early in the first round to reach for a quarterback they may not be in love with.