The New York Giants are currently projected to have the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and most NFL pundits within media circles expect the team to use that selection on a quarterback. While the possibility of the Giants pulling the trigger on a Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward is certainly within the realm of comprehension, there is one scenario not enough people are giving attention to.

After officially moving on from Daniel Jones this offseason, the current state of the Giants quarterback room is nothing short of a mess. It is also incredibly plausible we see the organization move on from head coach Brian Daboll after yet another underwhelming season. The front office could see a major shake-up as well, making nothing certain as it pertains to the future of the team.

If the Giants were to address their need at quarterback in free agency, the only two viable options would be Sam Darnold and Justin Fields, and we have seen both of them struggle in larger markets. We all saw the disaster Sam Darnold was in New York the first time, and while Justin Fields had good moments in Chicago, the pressure of the Chicago media and fan base may have affected his confidence. With that in mind, I do not see either quarterback as an ideal fit for the Giants.

If New York chooses to go the route of the draft to solve their problem, their options are not great. This draft as a whole looks to be a relatively weak class, especially at the quarterback position. The only two quarterbacks that would receive consideration inside the top-ten selections would be Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. However, neither quarterback is receiving a consensus top-five, or even top-ten, grade by draft pundits universally. If Sanders and Ward were in last year’s draft class, they would not grade out any higher than the 5th and 6th quarterbacks, and one could argue that even Michael Penix, Jr. would have been deserving to go ahead of them.

This brings us to Minnesota’s viewpoint. If Sam Darnold wins Minnesota a playoff game, it would be difficult to not bring him back, and if he takes them as far as the NFC Championship, how could you justify letting him walk for an unproven rookie who suffered a season-ending injury? Is the potential greater with McCarthy? Absolutely, but if Darnold proves he can take this team places in the postseason, you have to bring him back.

The Giants had the opportunity to draft McCarthy with the 6th overall pick just one year ago but opted for wide receiver Malik Nabers. While trading this year’s number one overall pick may seem unconventional, one must put into account the value of their first overall pick compared to their pick in a stronger draft last year. The Giants could get better value and take Travis Hunter with the first pick, but there is no way the Giants front office and ownership could justify that decision to the fans, considering their need for a quarterback. In a division with Jaylen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, and Dak Prescott, New York has no choice but to find a quarterback of their own if they want to compete in the NFC East moving forward.

Ultimately, the point is that no quarterback the Giants select with the #1 pick in this draft would be as good a player as J.J. McCarthy was in the 2024 draft class, and even with his rookie season meniscus tear, he would easily be the QB1 if he was in this draft class. It would be by a healthy margin as well.

While it may seem ridiculous to trade the #1 overall pick for a player you could have taken at #6 overall in a previous draft, the law of supply and demand will hike of the price for any quarterback. Besides, how else will the Giants get more value for the #1 pick? It is a bold move, but it is a move the Giants should entertain if they want to be competitive in a tough division.