Forget, for one second, about projecting who needs to be the following Giants quarterback.
Think as a substitute about what the following Giants quarterback needs to be.
Most of the to-be-decided player’s future teammates considered what characteristics they would love to see while clearing out their lockers at the top of a shell shock-inducing 3-14 season.
It’s as much as retained general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll to look for, discover and acquire the quarterback who they consider might be the missing piece to a fast turnaround.
“I’m enthusiastic about it,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said. “Ever since highschool, your quarterback is the leader of your team. Whether you prefer it or not, quarterback play affects everybody.”
Drew Lock is an unrestricted free agent and Tommy DeVito is an exclusive rights free agent, but Schoen hinted that DeVito can be re-signed.
ERFAs typically sign one-year contracts on the non-guaranteed minimum salary, so the Giants will enter March with security against having no quarterbacks on their roster.
The Giants essentially have three paths for locating their next starter: Adding a proven veteran like Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins; drafting Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward atop the draft; or a mixture of the 2 to create a contest between a high-end bridge like Justin Fields and a mid-round draft pick like Jalen Milroe, Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck or Jaxson Dart.
“I don’t care if it’s a rookie or a veteran,” guard Jon Runyan Jr. said. “We just need any person that’s going to assist us win games. Offensively, we’re built to try this. I believe we are able to run the ball well and, when needed, we are able to delay in pass protection. Someone to enhance us and get us going, and get some touchdowns, can be invaluable for us.”
Malik Nabers is the No. 1 reason a quarterback might find the Giants (and the NFL’s second lowest-scoring offense) appealing. He wants a fast learner.
“In the event that they ask me about it,” Nabers said, “I’ll do a little analysis and watch the QBs and allow them to know the way I feel about it.”
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor has more of the brand new prototype in mind after watching Jayden Daniels spark the Commanders and becoming an enormous fan of the Patriots’ Drake Maye’s improvisational style.
“Someone who gives everybody a lift,” Eluemunor said. “At the moment — with defensive ends getting smaller, faster and stronger — you must have guys that may also help out the offensive line. By that I mean when one in every of your guys is beat, you wish a quarterback that could make a man miss and manipulate the pocket, run around, throw it downfield. More just like the mobile, dual-threat crazy-thrower type.”
Whether or not he knew it, it seemed like Eluemunor was describing Ward’s skill set.
Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has his eye on quarterbacks who provide “efficiency and ball security.”
“You wish someone who can command a team,” Tracy said. “I think in the event you put the suitable person at quarterback then our offense can go.”
The longest-tenured offensive player — receiver Darius Slayton — knows what’s been missing even in the times of oft-injured Daniel Jones. What should the Giants goal?
“Stability,” said Slayton, a pending free agent. “One guy back there within the pocket for the season.”
What about personality?
Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson desires to see “confidence” — easier said than done with a Giants team that leads the NFL in losses since 2017.
“We also need a man that’s in a position to handle Latest York,” Eluemunor said. “It’s a troublesome place to play in the event you don’t have thick skin. But typically those places are amazing to play in. If you happen to play good here, you’ll hear it. If you happen to get a man that negativity isn’t going to affect him and he can go on the market and just ball, that can help us for next 12 months.”
Nabers is coming off a record-setting 109-catch, 1,204-yard rookie season, but watched his former LSU teammate Daniels hit it even larger in Washington. What’s the key sauce to copy?
“You might have to be in a cushty system,” Nabers said. “You might have to have guys that trust you within the constructing. You might have to steer. You might have to have numerous people pushing you to be great. If we draft any person that may do the identical thing, sky is the limit for a rookie that is available in and tries to vary the franchise.”
