The New York Giants are in the middle of a pivotal offseason that willdetermine the immediate and long-term future of the franchise.At one point late in the 2024 season they held the first overall pick. However, one win against the Colts in December pushed them down to three and just out of striking range to select the quarterback they covet. Still, all the Giants need is for either Tennessee or Cleveland to pass on a quarterback and the Giants will walk away with a new face of the franchise. Cam Ward to the Giants is not out of the realm of possibility.
The two quarterback prospects dominating the draft conversation are Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. However, the Giants’ preference between the two remains unclear. Beyond quarterback, the Giants also have needs on the interior defensive line, cornerback, linebacker, and the interior offensive line. Historically, Joe Schoen has proven to draft for need over the best player available, however, it would be difficult for him to pass up on a potentialfranchise quarterback with his job on the line.
Whether it’s a trade up to the first pick or he falls to the third pick, let’s make the case for Cam Ward out ofMiami.
Missing out on Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, followed up with missing out on Cam Ward, to then roster Jameis Winston as QB1 is the most Giants sequence of events I can even think of. pic.twitter.com/HwcvgiGKms
— Mike (@MikeForcella) March 24, 2025
Can The Giants Get Cam Ward?
The Giants have been linked to both Sanders and Ward since the end of the season. With the draft getting closer, pundits believe most teams have Ward as the clear-cut QB1 in this draft class. Whether or not Cam Ward goes to the Giants is another question. There’s so much to like about Ward’s game- he embodies nearly every trait that the modern NFL quarterback needs to be successful. From natural arm talent, off-platform plays, and delivering the ball when under pressure, Ward is an enticing prospect for any team in need of a game-changing quarterback.
This throw early in the season against Florida is the exact type of throw scouts want to see:
Cam Ward vs Florida pic.twitter.com/j5URQsKVWP
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 1, 2024
As well as this throw against Cal in early December:
One of my favorite Cam Ward plays yet, really shows off his game awareness & processing potential.
Thinks he gets the 12-men penalty, looks and even points to the ref DURING THE PLAY, but unsure if he's got the flag or not proceeds to throw a perfectly placed back shoulder up… pic.twitter.com/ArHqGc9qsF
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) December 6, 2024
Does He Fit the Giants Scheme?
Ward’s willingness to make difficult throws at all areas of the field meshes well with the type of offense that Brian Daboll truly wants to run. In many ways- aside from size and overall athletic profile- Ward plays the position in a similar fashion to Josh Allen, with whom Daboll experienced the most success. That’s not meant to be a direct comparison- just a note that Ward’s gameplay is closer to Allen than it is to Daniel Jones. If Ward ends up with the Giants, fans could expect to see a more vertical offense and a quarterback that uses his mobility to create throwing lines, as opposed to tucking and running for modest gains.
Ward plays the game like Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Both quarterbacks have great arm talent and the ability to extend plays but needed time to develop. Like Love, Ward shows flashes of high-level throws but can be inconsistent in decision-making.
Ward’s Areas for Improvement
Footwork
He still has room to grow from footwork and consistent decision-making standpoints. There are moments where he tries to play too much “hero ball” that leads to ugly interceptions, which absolutely cannot happen at the pro level. Draft analyst David Syvertsen claimed that Ward misses too many “layups” that might lead to turnovers in the NFL.
This throw against Virginia Tech is a good example of him staring down his first reach and not anticipating a high safety jumping the go-route in the endzone. Bad decision or bad ball placement?
Cam Ward is picked 😬
2nd Turnover of the first half for Ward
pic.twitter.com/Vt0a6TsLKO
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) September 28, 2024
Patience
Ward needs to learn how to be patient and to take what the defense gives him to keep an offense on schedule. Without this, he may not be successful at the next level. Again, his tendency to generate explosive plays is as much of a crutch as it is an advantage. However, rookies learn quickly that the throwing windows in college close much quicker in the pros. In many scenarios, keeping offense afloat and being selective with deep shots is a challenge for young signal callers.
In addition, Ward can get jittery under pressure, often drifting backward or bailing from clean pockets instead of stepping up. He needs to improve his ability to feel and evade rushers while keeping his eyes downfield. His lack of awareness in the pocket led to issues with ball security when scrambling, sometimes holding the ball too loosely. In 2023 he led the nation with seven lost fumbles and three in 2024. There’s worry that his slightly below-average hands and inability to feel backside pressure may prevent him from reaching his ceiling.
Is Ward Worth the Third Pick?
Cam Ward is not a perfect prospect, but he could become a Pro Bowl player if he is paired with the right coach early in his career. Making the case for Cam Ward to the Giants is easy and trading up for him would be justified. Ward is the clear-cut top quarterback in this year’s draft.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images