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Giants appear to be setting stage for unexpected draft move
The New York Giants have been doing additional homework on some of the top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, which has led to speculation that they may pass on a generational talent like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick. But what if they are setting themselves up to address multiple needs on Day 1?
Shedeur Sanders is scheduled to hold a private workout for a contingent of Giants officials on Thursday night. That could mean the Giants are thinking about drafting the former Colorado star with the third pick. Though recent reports have indicated most teams do not view Sanders as a player who is worthy of a high selection.
Sanders is not the only quarterback the Giants are planning to meet with before the draft. They also have workouts scheduled with Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
As Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports noted on Tuesday, the Giants are preparing for all possibilities. One realistic scenario that could unfold is New York drafting either Hunter or Carter with the No. 3 pick and then trading up into the back half of the first round to draft its quarterback of the future.
For what it’s worth, the #Giants had these private QB workouts planned all along, per sources — this isn’t a last-ditch effort. They’re doing full due diligence on this QB class and preparing for all scenarios, including a possible trade back into Round 1 if a QB starts to slide.… https://t.co/3edw3auk8h
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 15, 2025
That seems logical, and it is a possibility that was laid out by one ESPN analyst about Sanders.
If the Giants agree with other teams that Sanders is not worthy of the third overall pick, perhaps they buy into the idea that the quarterback could experience the dreaded draft-day slide. Maybe New York does not value Sanders highly enough to pass up on a can't-miss prospect like Hunter or Carter. That does not mean the Giants have ruled out targeting Sanders or another quarterback later in the first round.
The Giants also have the second pick in the second round, which is No. 34 overall. A top quarterback prospect could be available then, too.
Though they signed Russell Wilson this offseason, the Giants do not have their quarterback of the future on the roster. They seem to be setting the stage to draft one, even if they use their first pick on another position.
More must-reads:
- Giants to bring in two more QBs for last-minute visits
- Why workout with QB Shedeur Sanders may hint at Giants' draft plans
- The 'NFL QBs drafted in the first round since 2000' quiz
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NFL knee-jerk reactions: Super Bowl locks, QB chaos and shocking starts across the league
Two weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the takes are getting hotter than a mid-September turf field. Across the league, early results are fueling bold declarations from Yardbarker NFL writers — from crowning Super Bowl champs in Buffalo and Green Bay to demanding QB changes in Cleveland and Minnesota. NFC East DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) | Believe it or not: The Cowboys are good | The Cowboys are not as shaky as some suspected. Through two games, QB Dak Prescott has an average QB rating of 88.8, but the Cowboys have played competitively. The Prescott-to-CeeDee Lamb connection (16 catches for 222 yards) is heating up, and the offense should be good enough to keep Dallas in the playoff mix. NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2) | Russell Wilson is the undisputed QB No. 1 | After a career-worst performance in Week 1, Wilson responded with a career-best performance by throwing for 450 yards (264 yards coming on deep passes) and throwing for three touchdowns in a Week 2 loss to Dallas. Wilson tied for the fourth-highest passing yards in a game in team history. Jaxson Dart, who? PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0) | Who needs a passing attack? | The reigning Super Bowl champs haven’t looked flashy, but they’ve controlled both games with a combined time of possession of 67 minutes, 26 seconds. Jalen Hurts hasn’t thrown for a touchdown, but he has rushed for three. The Eagles’ relentless ground game is working, and it’s why they’ll contend for the Lombardi Trophy again in February. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1) | Not an NFC Championship Game contender | The reality for the Commanders is they're midway through a rebuild and working with a thin roster. The team was outmatched by the Packers in a 27-18 loss in Week 2. In that game, Jayden Daniels got sacked four times and Austin Ekeler was lost for the season to an Achilles injury, removing a key threat in Washington's running game. The Commanders made a surprise deep playoff run last season, but don't expect a repeat. — Conor Killmurray NFC West ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-0) | Inability to close out games will doom Cardinals | The Cardinals have struggled to close both games. They needed a fourth-down stop in the red zone to prevent the New Orleans Saints from rallying from a 10-point second-half deficit in Week 1 and nearly blew a 27-9 lead to the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Aside from a 52-yard run from running back Trey Benson in Week 1, the Cardinals haven't consistently got anything going on the ground (average 3.6 yards per carry). LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-0) | Signing of Davante Adams was massive | One of the more intriguing signings of the offseason was the Rams adding Adams after the release of former star wideout Cooper Kupp. After a relatively quiet opener (four catches for 51 yards) against the Houston Texans, Adams bounced back with six receptions for 106 yards and a TD in a Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans, giving QB Matthew Stafford a strong 1-2 punch with Puka Nacua. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-0) | The 49ers have fixed special teams issues | Despite bringing in a new special teams coordinator in 14-year NFL veteran Brant Boyer, special teams issues appeared to be a problem once again for the 49ers. Jake Moody, who has since been released, missed a 27-yard field goal and had a 36-yard attempt blocked in Week 1. One week later, Eddy Pineiro hit from 44 and 46 yards in a 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints, and all is well. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1) | Dominant defense carry team | After making two interceptions against 49ers QB Brock Purdy in a Week 1 loss, the Seahawks followed that up by sacking Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers three times and forcing two more interceptions. The Seahawks lead the NFL with a 49.4% pressure rate (h/t NextGen Stats), making them a difficult unit to match up with. — Colby Colwell NFC North CHICAGO BEARS (0-2) | Not even Ben Johnson can fix this mess | Johnson picked the Bears after turning down enticing head-coaching opportunities over the past few years, and it’s possible he’s already regretting that decision. QB Caleb Williams hasn’t improved from his rookie season, the defense is a disaster and GM Ryan Poles’ draft picks aren’t panning out. It’s going to be another long, frustrating season in Chicago. DETROIT LIONS (1-1) | The interior offensive line will hold the Lions back | The Lions used to be able to rip off five yards per carry behind their elite offensive line, but this group isn’t the same without center Frank Ragnow, who retired. Jahmyr Gibbs had a 42-yard run in Week 2, but he has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry outside of that, and David Montgomery has averaged only 3.7. Detroit gave up 12 pressures, four sacks and nine tackles for loss in a Week 1 loss against the Packers. GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-0) | The Packers should be favored to win the Super Bowl | The Packers (+700 at FanDuel) are the third choice to win the Super Bowl, behind the Baltimore Ravens (+500) and the Buffalo Bills (+600), but they should be the favorites after blowing out the Lions and Commanders. Green Bay ranks fourth in offensive EPA per play (0.160), first in yards allowed per play (3.7) and fifth in pressures (19), and DE Micah Parsons isn’t even playing a full workload yet. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-1) | J.J. McCarthy is not the answer | It’s far too early to label McCarthy a bust, but the results have been discouraging through his first two NFL starts. The 22-year-old ranks last among qualified QBs in EPA per play (-0.354) and 30th in success rate (41.7 percent). McCarthy had one great quarter against the struggling Bears, but his other seven quarters were dismal. — Jack Dougherty NFC South ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1) | GM Terry Fontenot gets last laugh | For the past two years, many have mocked Fontenot’s NFL Draft approach. In 2024, he used the No. 8 overall pick on QB Michael Penix Jr., two months after signing Kirk Cousins to a massive free-agent contract. Then he traded a 2026 first-rounder to select a second edge-rusher in the first-round of April’s draft. But Fontenot is the one laughing following Penix’s promising career start and the defense coming off a six-sack performance against the Vikings, its most sacks in a road game since 2019 (h/t Stathead). CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) | Team blew it on run defense | The Panthers are likely ruing what could have been during free agency, when for a brief moment it appeared they had signed Super Bowl LIX-champion defensive tackle Milton Williams, who eventually landed with the New England Patriots after a last-second change of heart. Through two games, Carolina is allowing 5.2 yards per carry, the same as last season, while the Patriots rank first in stuff rate (35.9 percent)— rushing plays that result in no gain or a loss. (h/t NFL Pro). NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-2) | Head coach Kellen Moore has Saints headed in right direction | New Orleans lacks the talent necessary to compete with potential playoff teams, but that’s not Moore's fault. The Saints have lost their first two games by a combined 12 points and had an opportunity to win each late in the fourth quarter, showing impressive fight for a team with the odds stacked against it. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0) | Baker Mayfield is in the conversation for the NFL’s most clutch QB | Two games, two last-minute winning touchdown drives orchestrated by Mayfield. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick has already added two memorable chapters to his career of late-game heroics, including his 25-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka in Week 1 and his 15-yard scramble on 4th-and-10 against the Vikings to extend the game, proving there are few QBs better with the game on the line. — Eric Smithling AFC East BUFFALO BILLS (2-0) | This is Buffalo’s year | Buffalo fans should plan on attending Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California to watch last year’s AFC East champions cap an undefeated season with their first Lombardi Trophy. With a league-high 900 yards of offense and 71 points in two wins, the mighty Bills and reigning MVP Josh Allen, who needed just 14 completions to beat the New York Jets in Week 2, have no match. MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2) | Trade Tyreek Hill now | With a players-only meeting already in the books, the dysfunctional Dolphins are going nowhere fast. Hill had six catches for 109 yards against the New England Patriots in Week 2 and could net the team a second-round pick in a trade. With no guaranteed money beyond 2025 and a $51M cap hit for 2026, the 31-year-old receiver should already have his bags packed. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1) | Who’s Tom Brady? | Second-year QB Drake Maye completed 65.2 percent of passes in a 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 but connected on 82.6 percent throws of in a 33-27 win against the Dolphins in Week 2. Book him a ticket to Canton. NEW YORK JETS (0-2)| The Jets should have kept Aaron Rodgers | Rodgers looked great against his old team in Week 1 (four TD passes, no interceptions), less so against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 (one TD pass, two interceptions). But no QB looked worse than New York's Justin Fields, who completed three passes for 27 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter of a Week 2 loss to the Bills because of a concussion. Meanwhile, Rodgers’ five touchdown passes are tied with Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert for second most in the NFL. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS (1-1) | The big free-agent signees look like flops | This offseason, the Broncos signed TE Evan Engram and LB Dre Greenlaw, but neither has bolstered the roster. The TE has just four receptions for 33 yards, and the LB hasn’t played because of a quadriceps issue. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2) | The Chief would stink without QB Patrick Mahomes | Mahomes — who ranks fourth in the league QBR (81.4) through two games — is one of the few reasons the Chiefs are still considered a Super Bowl contender. Kansas City ranks 24th in the NFL in points (19 PPG) and is tied for 19th in points allowed (23.5). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1) | RB Ashton Jeanty is no longer an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate| Jeanty (pick No. 6) has 30 carries for 81 yards (2.7 yards per carry) and one TD in two games. After a Week 2 loss to the Chargers, new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said they're bringing the former Boise State star along slowly. Unless he starts rolling soon, the 2024 Heisman finalist has no prayer in the OROY race. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-0) | QB Justin Herbert is an MVP contender | Through two starts, he has completed a career-high 72.1 percent of his passes for 560 yards and five TDs and logged an outstanding 81.6 QBR. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1) | Lamar Jackson is a master of efficiency | If you’re not respecting Jackson’s ability to pass, you’re not paying attention. Since the start of the 2024 season, Jackson has the NFL’s best touchdown/interception ratio (47 TD passes to only four interceptions). CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-0) | The Bengals have wasted Joe Burrow | The Bengals received a gift from the football gods when they landed Burrow with the 2020 No. 1 overall pick. But they have squandered that gift, making the playoffs twice with him and playing him behind a consistently poor offensive line. He has already missed 15 games in his career and is going to add many more to that total after suffering a toe injury in Week 2. CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-2) | It’s time to start one of the young QBs | Joe Flacco, 40, is just a waste of time for Cleveland. It’s clear the Browns are a disaster and Flacco (three picks, two TD passes) should be a backup. Whether it is Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders, the Browns must give one of their rookie QBs meaningful snaps...and that means starting one of them. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) | The defense stinks | Before the season, HC Mike Tomlin and the Steelers talked a big game about what their defense would be capable of, with Tomlin using the word “historic” to describe its upside. But the defense has been anything but historic. Instead, it is getting pushed around again in the running game (allowing 149.5 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry). — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS (0-2) | The offense is broken | Joe Mixon was the focal point of the offense in 2024 with 1,325 total yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns, but the running back has a foot injury and no timetable for a return. The Texans have struggled to run with Nick Chubb as their lead back, which has put more pressure on QB C.J. Stroud. Houston’s 14 points per game through the first two weeks ranks last in the NFL. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-0) | Daniel Jones is a playoff QB | The Colts are the most surprising team in the NFL, and Jones is a worthy starter after a dismal end to his career with the New York Giants. He has accounted for five total touchdowns and ranks second in the NFL with 588 passing yards. Jones looks like he has renewed confidence playing under HC Shane Steichen. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1) | Trevor Lawrence will never live up to his contract | Lawrence signed a five-year, $275M contract extension before last season and then struggled through an injury-riddled year. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft continues to have an issue with turnovers (three interceptions in two games). Lawrence has plenty of weapons around him and a QB whisperer of a coach in Liam Coen, so he has no excuse to look average. TENNESSEE TITANS (0-2) | HC Brian Callahan won’t survive the season | NFL teams have not been patient with struggling head coaches in recent years, and Callahan might be the next to receive a pink slip sooner than expected. The Titans went 3-14 in Callahan’s first season last year and are winless in 2025. Callahan is navigating a tough set of circumstances with a rookie starting QB in Cam Ward, who has completed just 50.8 percent of his passes through his first two games, but that might not matter. — Steve DelVecchio
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Chargers star Khalil Mack's outlook is better than expected
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack will be out for a few weeks after dislocating his elbow during Monday night’s matchup with the Raiders, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Who will take Khalil Mack's place for the Los Angeles Chargers? The injury is not season-ending, but Los Angeles will need one of its depth outside linebackers to take Mack’s place for the time being. That will likely be veteran Bud Dupree, who replaced Mack on Monday and has significantly more experience than third-year UDFA Caleb Murphy or fourth-round rookie Kyle Kennard. At the moment, it seems unlikely that the Chargers will make a signing to bolster their OLB depth. Mack’s injury is not expected to be long-term, and the pool of free-agent edge-rushers has suddenly dried up after both Preston Smith and Jadeveon Clowney signed with new teams this week. The Chargers did host their rival's former draft bust on a visit. Instead, the Chargers’ plan will likely be as follows: Dupree will start, with Murphy receiving a bump in snaps as the No. 3 edge-rusher and Kennard making his NFL debut after two healthy scratches to start the year. The team was comfortable with only four active outside linebackers in Weeks 1 and 2, so it may not feel the need to make an elevation from the practice squad. Mack, 34, was quiet in Week 1 against the Chiefs but looked better on Monday with one sack and one tackle for loss in Las Vegas. He re-signed with the Chargers this offseason on a one-year, $18M deal after six sacks in 2024.
Mike Matheson and David Savard in talks with the Canadiens
Mike Matheson has entered the final year of his contract and, with an annual salary of $4.875 million, will be free as a bird on July 1 if he hasn’t signed a new deal by then. But if we’re to believe David Pagnotta(The Fourth Period), it might not come to that, because according to the informer, discussions are currently underway between the defenseman and the Canadiens to extend his contract. We know that Matheson wants to play here, and we also know that the Canadiens like him a lot. Jeff Gorton praised him this summer, saying he was important to the club at the moment… and even if there are other defensemen growing within the organization, making room for a veteran like him isn’t a crazy idea. Especially when you recognize the fact that the Canadiens’ defense is very young. Matheson is valuable to the Canadiens. His role will diminish (possibly even more so after the arrival of Noah Dobson), but we’re still talking about a player who helps the team in his own way. Last season, he was particularly useful on the power play, and he’s likely to have a similar role this year too. If he can produce offensively, on top of all that… [content-ads] Matheson is said to be in talks with the Habs… but the same can be said of David Savard. No, it wouldn’t be in the context of a return to the ice. But the former Canadiens defenseman, who retired at the end of last season, admitted to Kevin Dubé(Journal de Québec): there may be a position waiting for him with the Canadiens at some point. We’ve had a lot of conversations, and nothing’s closed yet. – David Savard The Journal de Québec article was published on the TVA Sports site (and Habs and NHL also wrote on the subject): It’s not the first time we’ve heard about this, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Because it shows one thing: there really seems to be an interest on the part of the defenseman and the organization to find something for him. Savard was on the ice with the Quebec Remparts on Tuesday, and it’s worth remembering that he’ s associated with 44 seconds, a consulting firm that helps junior and professional defensemen. Clearly, he’s still interested in staying in the hockey world. And so much the better, if the Canadiens are able to find a role for him within the organization [spacer title=’Overtime’] – It’s true that we’re talking about a beautiful amphitheatre. – The – He knows what he has to do. – Happy reading,
Legendary Dallas Cowboys Star Dead Wednesday At 79
The Dallas Cowboys lost a two-time Super Bowl champion this week. Former Cowboys D.D. Lewis passed away this Tuesday. He was 79. Prior to becoming a superstar for "America's Team," he was an All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Mississippi State. That led to him being a sixth-round pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. When it was all said and done, he appeared in five Super Bowls as a member of the Cowboys. He had 15.5 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries and eight interceptions in 186 career games. "D.D. was a great player," former Cowboys star Thomas Henderson said. "He kept me from the weakside because he played it so well. D.D. was a tough guy and I wanted his job Day 1, but I never could get it because he played [coach Tom] Landry’s defense and I couldn’t interrupt that. So I ended up on the strong side, which was better for me because I got to box every down." Earlier this Wednesday, Mississippi State released a statement on Lewis and his legacy. He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. "We mourn the passing of Bulldog legend D.D. Lewis," Mississippi State said. "An All-SEC standout and 1967 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he played 13 years with the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in five Super Bowls, won two, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001." Lewis was beloved in Dallas. Back when Lewis was making plays for the Cowboys, he dropped an incredible quote about playing at Texas Stadium. "Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play," Lewis said. There's no question Dallas fans appreciated Lewis' passion and commitment to the franchise. We'll see if the Cowboys honor him before their Week 3 game. Our thoughts are with the Lewis family at this time.
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