It just got a lot more complicated for the Giants to draft Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward as their new franchise quarterback.
The Giants snapped a franchise-record 10-game losing streak and spit in the face of the narrative that they were tanking for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by beating the Colts, 45 -33, Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
All the Giants had to do to clinch the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1965 was lose their final two games – a possibility that a boisterous segment of the fan base was clinging to as hope for the future.
Instead, the Giants (3-13) now are slated to pick either No. 3 or No. 4 in the first round, pending future results.
The Giants lose tiebreakers with other 3-13 teams because they have the best strength of schedule resulting in that record.
That had the Giants at No. 4 when their game ended, and they jumped to No. 3 quickly as the Raiders held on to beat the Saints.
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The Browns (3-12) would draft before the Giants if they finish with the same record. Their game Sunday against the Dolphins was slated for the 4 p.m. window.
So, with a Raiders win and a Browns loss, the Giants would be No. 4. With a Raiders win and a Browns win, the Giants would be No. 3.
The Patriots moved up to No. 1, which could create an interesting auction if they wanted to trade back because their future quarterback is already in the fold.
The Giants likely would want to be a part of those sweepstakes – one year after the Giants couldn’t execute a trade with the Patriots to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 to draft quarterback Drake Maye.
Are the Giants going to be willing to trade a future first-round pick to move up for the right to select either Sanders or Ward after doing months of scouting homework on the two quarterbacks?
The quarterback-needy Titans hold the No. 2 pick after losing Sunday’s Three-Win Bowl against the Jaguars. Whichever team lost that game was going to be ahead of the Giants, while one was going to join the hapless four-win group.