It is no secret Joe Schoen & Co. are enamored with University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward. It is also no secret they blew their chance to be guaranteed Ward when the defeated the Indianapolis Colts late last season. The win knocked them down from the top pick to the third pick.
The Tennessee Titans, who actually hold the first pick, were originally said to be a possible trade partner for the pick. The Giants were going to offer a slew of assets to assure themselves of their quarterback.
The talk about a possible trade has now become cold. It appears as though the Titans are going to hold their pick and draft Ward for themselves. The Titans have made no move for a quarterback in free agency and watched their quasi-starter Mason Rudolph take off for their division rival the Pittsburgh Steelers.
ESPN NFL analyst Jordan Raanan, who covers the Giants on a daily basis, has said the deal to trade for the pick "appears dead."
You have to give the Giants credit. They apparently were offering a good package of picks for the right to select Ward. According to Raanan there are rumors circulating the Giants were going to send the No. 3 pick, the No. 34 pick and a third-round selection in next year's draft. If that was the offer, it was very fair.
This puts Schoen and coach Brian Daboll behind the eight-ball. If they cannot get Ward, they must get the best veteran out there to help them win now. They cannot ill afford to wait until 2026 because there might be new leadership by then.
It was clear during co-owner's John Mara's end of season press conference that Daboll and Schoen are returning under the caveat that they must win now. There is no tomorrow if they do not succeed today.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid had his own thoughts on the possibility of the trade going down.
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"A team hadn't traded up from No. 3 to No. 1 since 1975 when the (Atlanta) Falcons moved up to select quarterback Steve Bartkowski," Reid said.
The Giants, apparently, are not going to get their quarterback of choice in this draft. It also appears more than likely the Giants are not going to select a quarterback at No. 3.
The Giants should be concentrating on an alternative selection with the third pick, outside of a quarterback. There is no other quarterback worth drafting in the top half of the first round.
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This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM.