For months, the New York Giants seemed destined to pick Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. At the NFL Scouting Combine, rumors spread about a potential trade for Miami's Cam Ward instead.
The Giants' preferences likely haven't changed, but the narratives surrounding the class have, leaving fans and analysts alike ready to speculate about where general manager Joe Schoen wants to go with the No. 3 pick.
It remains possible that either New York doesn't love the class' top two passers or one does not fall to No. 3, making a veteran signing all the more important and pushing the team's plans into Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
That's how things could shake out according to ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, who revealed the Giants' draft plans could include a second-round quarterback.
"If I'm the Giants and you're at No. 3, let's say Cam Ward No. 1 and Shedeur goes No. 2, or Abdul Carter or someone else, and you say this is our plan," Orlovsky said on "Air It Out."
"We're going to sign (Aaron) Rodgers as a free agent, draft Travis Hunter at three, and then with the second or third pick in the second round, we're going to draft Jalen Milroe.
"So now we're sitting there going, well, on offense, we've got (Malik) Nabers and Travis Hunter. Travis can play a little bit of DB, and then Aaron can play for maybe September and see how it goes."
For many fans, pairing a blue-chip prospect with a viable plan at quarterback is the best-case scenario for the offseason. Whether it's Rodgers, Russell Wilson, or another bridge quarterback, the pairing of Hunters and Nabers instantly makes the passing offense credible. A second-round pick under center, especially with the kind of physical tools that define Milroe's game, is a path to franchise-changing upside, even with a lesser chance of success.
Related: Giants Prioritize Positional Value in Two-Round Mock
Passing on a quarterback at three allows New York to push itself along the win curve with a high-level player at an important position while affording a more proven passer the chance to start. Milroe's upside is real, but second-round picks are far more expendable and don't demand second chances in the way top-five picks do.
Thus, taking Milroe wouldn't preclude the Giants from picking a better prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. If he plays in 2025 and struggles, New York can safely move on without the front office consequences that define first-round failures.
The Giants have several paths ahead of them in the coming weeks. Fans would be smart to embrace the uncertainty of the offseason and keep an open mind to those different options for next year's quarterback room – especially in this draft class.
Related: Giants Draft Blue-Chip Prospect and New QB in 4-Round Mock
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This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM.