Well, it finally happened. After six years, the nightmare marriage of Daniel Jones and the New York Giants seems to be over. Head Coach Brian Daboll has opted to start Tommy DeVito for New York’s week 12 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Along with this, Jones is listed third on the depth chart, behind former second-round pick Drew Lock as well. The tank in the Meadowlands is on, and it’s hard to see the franchise sticking with the former Duke signal caller after this season. In this week’s edition of Sargeant’s Orders, we will explore the three (ish) different routes the Giants can take from here. However, no matter who the Giants do acquire, they must address their horrid offensive line this offseason, as it will be nearly impossible for a rookie to succeed on this team in the present state.
Justin Fields
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is set to become a free agent this offseason after the Steelers declined his $26 million option. This was the easiest choice ever, considering that Fields not only regressed as a rusher and a passer, but also slid behind Russell Wilson on the depth chart. Even when Fields was playing, the Steelers’ 8-2 success can’t be attributed to him, as the defense and rushing attack have stepped it up. Not to mention, kicker Chris Boswell has singlehandedly won games this season for the team when the offense has failed to punch the ball into the endzone. It’s safe to say that Fields and the Steelers will part ways this offseason, and with his lack of success, he is the perfect option for the Giants to scoop up for cheap. Not only this, but Fields has shown some promise, meaning there can be some upside to this signing. While this move can be described as putting a band-aid over a bullet hole, there is a long-term plan with this move.
New York’s priority should be landing Travis Hunter in this year’s draft, a player who fills a need at both wide receiver and cornerback. If not, they can draft a talented wide receiver like Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillian. Since Fields is viewed as a bridge quarterback, tanking again isn’t the worst option, so the Giants can wait until the next draft to get their future quarterback. Who better than Arch Manning, the nephew of Giants legend Eil Manning, leading that future?
Draft Jalen Milroe in the second round
Another move that could come to fruition is New York drafting Hunter in the first round and following that up with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the second round. For this to happen, New York would need some luck on their side, as mock drafts have Milroe going as high as fifth overall to the second round. The team will likely compete with the Las Vegas Raiders in the quarterback sweepstakes. However, there is a chance that the Raiders will take McMillian, with the fifth overall pick to replenish their depleted wide receiver room or even quarterback Cam Ward. However, make no mistake, Milroe is no consolation prize. The dual threat signal-caller has elite speed and agility, making him a threat as both a runner and scrambler. He also possesses an NFL-ready arm with the ability to sling the pigskin down the field. Not only this, but Milroe also has big game experience, such as in last year’s SEC Championship when the Crimson Tide took down the Georgia Bulldogs. While Milroe is limited with some of his throwing mechanics and pocket presence, he will be under the watchful eye of Daboll, who has made a living at transforming quarterbacks; just look at the career arc of quarterback Josh Allen.
Cam Ward/Shedeur Sanders
If the Giants miss out on Hunter with a high draft pick, which is likely considering they are in a tank race with three other two-win teams, they could opt to draft either Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Sanders and Ward are the top two quarterbacks on most big boards right now, and for good reason. Ward is similar to Packers quarterback Jordan Love in a lot of ways. He can make the side arm throw and features odd arm angles on some throws, though he can get away with it. His ability to read defenses and feel out when the pressure is coming allows him to make the best decision possible with the football. However, that being said, he makes some ugly turnovers, which boils down to his mechanics. Ward tends to throw off his backfoot, and it has led to turnovers. In Miami’s week six matchup at Cal, Ward made a cross body, off the back foot, toss into the middle of the field that was easily intercepted for a costly pick-six. This lollipop throw should never have been made, especially on first down, trailing two scores. Despite this, there should be confidence that the Giants’ coaching staff can harness Ward’s ability as a passer off the back foot because he has shown an aptitude for it. However, plays like that cannot be had in the NFL, as these can blow up a team’s week in a heartbeat.
A positive with drafting Sanders is that he will fit into the New York system like a glove, considering that the Colorado offensive line is also atrocious. However, Sanders sometimes holds onto the rock too long, and it hurts him. The senior has endured 31 sacks in 10 weeks of action, and in all of Colorado’s losses this year, the signal caller has been sacked five or more times. He was also sacked a season high eight times against Baylor, though he won in overtime after connecting on a hail mary pass as time expired in regulation. Despite this issue, Sanders has proven he is an excellent signal caller. He arguably has the best deep ball in this draft class. The quarterback also excels at stepping up in the pocket to extend a play, where he picks defenses apart and excels.