Shedeur Sanders has been flirting with the NY Giants for a hot minute. He publicized linking up with WR1 Malik Nabers in the Big Apple before the Heisman ceremony. Then, he wore cleats clad in Giants colors at the Alamo Bowl. There’s been a quiet confidence exuded by his demeanor throughout the draft process that signals he’s headed to New York with the 3rd pick. Or higher if they trade up to grab him with reassurance. The franchise appears to reciprocate this affection too. Those daps between Shedeur and HC Brian Daboll during the Flag Football exhibition on Super Bowl weekend were extra crisp! Alas, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. A predecessor of Daboll with direct links to Shedeur Sanders is reiterating his quality as franchises appear to pivot elsewhere.

A high pick doesn’t equate to a good player. Not every outfit gets their franchise QB straightaway. Chancing a lower draft pick on an alternative strategy is a calculated risk. The issues at the Giants run deeper than the quarterback. So deep that they could indulge in some acrobatics. There’s a rationale for them to trade back. This would allow them to draft multiple high-caliber picks. Filling out the supporting cast instead of going all-in on the quarterback. Then, draft a QB in the later rounds. Spreading your rebuild around could be a shrewd move in such a deep class.

Conversely, the Giants brass could also stick to their guns with the 3rd pick and draft a more highly-rated prospect like EDGE Abdul Carter if he’s on the board. Build the trenches. We saw its importance during the Eagles’ Super Bowl triumph. In both cases, Shedeur Sanders doesn’t get what’s seemingly his dream franchise. He’d be pleased to see a familiar face extend a helping hand.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that former head coach of the NY Giants and now OC at Colorado Pat Shurmur is a proponent of Shedeur Sanders to the Giants. He’s waxing lyrical about his former QB, and the son of his superior Deion Sanders. Biased or not, Shurmur reckons passing up on Shedeur is only understandable in one scenario. If it’s to draft his other Colorado player, Travis Hunter. “I’ve talked to all 32 teams, some of them multiple times. Some of those teams oughta get an Airbnb out here [in Boulder, CO]. If you need a quarterback, draft Shedeur. If you don’t need a quarterback, take Travis.  As my daughter would say, it’s not that deep. I think whatever team chooses to pick him is going to make a really good choice,” said Shurmur. 

Pat Shurmur was in New York for 2 seasons before being given his marching orders. Failing at the poisoned chalice that is the modern Giants shouldn’t be a death nail. But his rep as a coach inadvertently took a hit. He’s now building it back up with the Buffs and Deion. Naturally, he’s got love for his two superstars from last season. Reciprocating their efforts to build back his own stock as a coach by propelling theirs as NFL prospects is fair. His plea won’t fall on deaf ears either. It comes off the back of a report from NFL insider Josina Anderson that “a quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the top 7 referred to Shedeur Sanders as coming off ‘brash’ and ‘arrogant’ in his team interview and making his assessment known to a number of people,” 

HC Daboll is firmly in sink-or-swim territory. After making the playoffs in year 1, things have spiraled out. The epitome of his and the front office’s missteps was to award Daniel Jones with a huge payday over Saquon Barkley. They let Saquon walk in favor of keeping what they thought was their franchise QB. Hindsight is 20/20, but what transpired is an unmitigated disaster. Saquon just won a ring and had one of the greatest running back seasons ever. Meanwhile, Daniel Jones got cut, owing to a string of poor performances. Ironically, it was Pat Shurmur who drafted Daniel Jones to the Giants. With Daboll now on the hot seat, he needs results pronto. Which he can’t muster without a good quarterback. So does he indeed cave in and draft Shedeur Sanders to have the best chance at staying in the job?

Shedeur Sanders could be the last roll of the dice for Brian Daboll

Drafting Shedeur Sanders may not be the best move long-term. He’s perceived as a high-floor, low-ceiling QB. As aforementioned, spreading your chips for a more holistic rebuild is something this draft class allows for. It’s relatively weak in the quarterback position, but brimming with talent in other position groups. That said, Daboll may not have a long term to look ahead to. Simply put, he needs good quarterbacking in 2025/26. The best free agent in Sam Darnold is off the market, and the others don’t induce confidence. The signs do point to the Giants going quarterback with the 3rd overall pick. 

Fascinatingly, revered draft analyst Field Yates is projecting the Giants to pick Shedeur Sanders himself. To salvage that $160 million hole Daniel Jones burnt in their pockets with a cheap, rookie-scale contract. In his latest mock draft released after the first wave of free agency, Yates wrote “The Giants will stay focused on landing a quarterback this week, but that won’t preclude them from examining the draft class at that position, too.” This isn’t the first suggestion that Shedeur could be picked high just to get sat his rookie year. Similar to a Patrick Mahomes-type trajectory. If the Giants really are “focused on landing a quarterback this week”, their options largely boil down to over-the-hill veterans like Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, if the Falcons cut him.

“This approach would allow the Giants to institute short- and long-term plans at quarterback, adding a veteran over the next few days and then also developing Sanders for the future. Sanders’ ball placement and ability to throw with touch are outstanding traits,” added Field Yates. Shedeur Sanders has been dragged through the mud over recent weeks. Both for his on-field play and character. The truth is, he’s a fine QB. Unpolished, but still malleable. Pat Shurmur can attend to this firsthand. There’s gotta be some level of confidence for him to stick his neck out for Shedeur. That said, we’ve seen him draft Daniel Jones. Maybe his assessment of prospective quarterbacks isn’t the greatest!