Potential Quarterback Fits for New York Giants in 2025

The New York Giants had a miserable, forgettable year in 2024. Not only did the team sink to a new low finishing with a record of 3-14, but just about everything that could go wrong, went wrong for Big Blue.

From Daniel Jones' implosion, benching, and ultimate release from the team, to a defense that lacked any real identity due to injuries; and of course, the now meme-able moment when General Manager Joe Schoen and owner John Mara realized they lost Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles, which was chronicled on Hard Knocks.

Barkley added more gas to the flame when he rushed for 2,008 yards and became a key cog in the Eagles Super Bowl championship run.

Now that the confetti has settled on Super Bowl LXI, the focus has shifted to the 2025 off-season, and the Giants are one of possibly a dozen teams that will be looking for a new starting quarterback for next season. Who are the most likely options? Keep scrolling!

Ok, you can stop laughing now. I had to get that one out of the way.

There is a better chance the Brooklyn Nets win the NBA Draft lottery than there is of Aaron Rodgers coming back to New York to play for the Giants. No way will Giants owner John Mara want to put up with all of the drama that comes with the former Jets signal caller.

Kirk Cousins name is going to come up a lot this off-season. Teams like the Browns, Jets, Viking, and Colts are also linked to the Falcons quarterback, who has three-years, $180 million left on his deal. It just didn't work out in Atlanta as the Falcons struggled, and Cousins was replaced by Michael Pennix.

There is a good chance the Falcons release Cousins before March 17 when his $10 million roster bonus for 2026 becomes guaranteed.  The Falcons could try to trade him, but he has a no-trade clause in his deal. Plus any team that works a deal with Atlanta would have to take on Cousin's $27.5 million. So a release is likely.

Is he a fit? In New York, no. Cousins was linked to the Jets back in 2018, and pretty much used them as leverage to get a big deal out of the Vikings. He's a Midwest guy, went to school at Michigan State. Chance are if a team like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tennessee or Indy come calling, all would be better fits.

The veteran Los Angeles Rams quarterback came the closest of anyone of upsetting the eventual Champion Eagles during the playoffs, now he might be on his way out of Hollywood. Stafford, 37, has two more years on his deal, but only $4 million of a $49.6 million cap hit is guaranteed. The Rams will have to restructure the contract if they plan to keep him. Stay tuned.

While he could end up staying in L.A. there are a few dominos that might point otherwise. One is Stafford's wife Kelly, who dropped hints about the couple moving on from the Rams. And, add the recent fact that Kelly's brother, Chad Hall was just signed by the Giants as an assistant quarterbacks coach, and the fact that Rams receiver Cooper Kupp might get dealt this off-season as well.

The question here is would Stafford be ok at this point in his career being a mentor to a rookie quarterback? Or does he want to find a win now situation?

While the Giants might be attractive on paper, a team like the Steelers might be a better fit for Stafford if he wants to extend his career and compete for postseason right away.

The former Jets and Giants quarterback has enjoyed a renaissance the past couple years in Seattle, but he could be a salary cap casualty this off-season.  According to Giants Wire on USA Today, "Smith is in the final year of the three-year, $75 million deal which will pay him $14.8 million for this upcoming season." 

Smith was a back-up with the Giants back in 2017 and seemed to parlay that experience in a starters job in Seattle where he turned around his career with a pair of Pro Bowl seasons and a playoff berth. If the Giants were to reacquire him, they could trade for him, or wait and see if Seattle releases him.

Adding Smith would make sense. His experience in New York -- while not a great one -- would be beneficial in mentoring a young quarterback like Sanders.

If there is one quarterback that is very likely to fall to the Giants who hold the number three overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft it is Shedeur Sanders out of the University of Colorado. In fact, many have had Sanders linked to the Giants for a while now, and it was only buoyed by the fact that Sanders tweeted out cleats with the Giants logo, and attended a Knicks game back in December during Heisman week.
Then there is this video that surfaced online from the Shrine Bowl week where Brian Daboll and Sanders share a friendly handshake.

Obviously the son of Primetime Deion Sanders is not afraid of the spotlight, but is he the right fit for the usually buttoned down Giants?
It remains to be seen. He is known to be accurate, but has what some scouts label as a weak arm. Still, if he is sitting there at three it will be hard for the Giants to pass on him, even if they have signed a veteran by the time the draft arrives.

This is an important get for Schoen/Daboll. There were rumblings during Hard Knocks that Daboll like Jayden Daniels out of LSU. We all know Daniels wound up the Rookie of the Year in Washington.

If and when the Giants sign/trade for a veteran quarterback their best option might be free agent Russell Wilson. Wilson was curious about the Giants last off-season before signing a one-year deal in Pittsburgh. He is a free agent now, and with the Steelers still deciding what to do between he and Justin Fields, this is an opportunity for the Giants to strike.  The Giants would want Wilson on a short term deal. He would give Big Blue a veteran presence, and a resume of success. Still let us not forget Wilson's time in Denver was not great, and in many ways infamous for the way he and Sean Payton didn't see eye to eye. Also let us not forget that Wilson lost six straight with the Steelers to end this past season.

At the very least, Wilson would keep the seat warm for half, if not the entire season as Sanders, Cam Ward, or whomever the Giants draft watches from the sideline.