Could NFL backup QB keep Giants from drafting Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart?

While some mock drafts featuring trades have linked the New York Giants with to-be rookie quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, there's no guarantee as of the third Thursday of March that the Giants will be able to land either player on the night of April 24. 

Thus, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe and Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com are among reporters who have recently linked the Giants with New England Patriots backup Joe Milton III. According to Volin, the Patriots could consider accepting a 2025 third-round pick in return for Milton since they view Drake Maye as a long-term answer at the position.  

"At 6-feet-5 inches, with the athleticism to do standing backflips and throw the ball 80-plus yards, Milton might have the most talent of any quarterback available this spring," Volin wrote. "...The Patriots probably would like to move Milton this offseason, in part to give Maye some breathing room and remove any doubt that the franchise believes in him."

NFL personnel routinely ripped this year's quarterback draft class ahead of the combine. During a Wednesday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, analyst Brian Hoyer said he would take Milton, a 2024 sixth-round pick, "over any of the quarterbacks in" this year's draft. 

Nevertheless, numerous insiders and reporters believe the Tennessee Titans will hold onto the draft's first pick so they can take Ward. Many of those same individuals think such a scenario would result in the Cleveland Browns selecting Sanders at No. 2. 

It's unknown if Giants general manager Joe Schoen would consider taking Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 3. 

As for Milton, he became the subject of trade rumors after he completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown in New England's Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills this past January. Novozinsky noted that Buffalo rested starters that day.

"Milton has a lot of what you’d want in a QB prospect," Novozinsky added. "He’s 6-foot-5, 246 pounds, has a missile of an arm and ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash last combine."

Draft expert Todd McShay of The Ringer recently revealed that at least two quarterback-needy teams "weren’t overly impressed" with Sanders after meeting with him at the combine. If the Giants were one of those clubs, trading for Milton could allow them to grab either Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the third overall pick.