The New York Giants own the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft later this month, and most are expecting them to take a quarterback.
However, Giants general manager Joe Schoen is saying that that is no guarantee.
“We don’t wanna be up here again — we don’t want to be picking in the top 10,” Schoen told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “We have multiple needs. We are going into Year 3. People assume we’re going quarterback, but we have other needs. If the quarterbacks go 1–4, then we’re getting the second-best position player, not quarterback, at six, which is okay, too. That player will really help us.”
Schoen is right that New York has multiple needs, but perhaps the most important need that the team has is under center.
The Giants signed Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract extension last offseason after an impressive 2022, but the first year of his deal was an unmitigated disaster.
Jones made just six starts before tearing his ACL this past season, and when he was on the field, he struggled mightily, throwing for 909 yards, a couple of touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 67.5 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 70.5. He also rushed for 206 yards and a score.
In Jones’ defense, New York lacked weapons, and its offensive line was abysmal. However, that was Jones’ fifth NFL season, and he has yet to show Big Blue that he can be a legitimate franchise quarterback.
That’s why the Giants may have no choice but to take a signal-caller with their top draft pick, although they also have a huge need at wide receiver.
Some have suggested that New York could take a wide out or an offensive lineman at No. 6 and then take a quarterback later in the draft.
Whatever the case may be, Schoen is probably just trying not to tip his hand. We shouldn’t take all of what he says as gospel with the draft just a little more than two weeks away.
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