This shouldn’t change anything for the Giants. It can’t change anything. This team needs their future at quarterback. They need it now. That’s why they must find a way to come out of the draft with either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders.
That was the case before Russell Wilson signed. It still is now that he has.
Nothing else matters until New York’s future is in that locker room.
Wilson is a fine enough player, assuming you adjust expectations. He’s nothing like the borderline MVP candidate he was during his first nine years in Seattle. His athleticism was always his strength. As that has deteriorated in his older age (he turned 36 in November), he too has declined.
Wilson was never a fundamentally sound, structured quarterback. He played a backyard, freelance style. He was at his best when things broke down. He’d run around, the teammates Seattle surrounded him with would improvise with him, and the group would make plays. It’s harder to do that when you’re not as fast or quick or agile as you once were.
That, along with his sometimes unbecoming personality, is why the Broncos and Steelers chose to move on in recent years.
You don’t sign Wilson believing he’ll lead you to the playoffs. You don’t sign him hoping he’ll start a full season. He is what he is at this point: A veteran who has been there, done that and still has a little left to remind you a handful of times what he used to be.
He’s a solid bridge to the future. He affords you the luxury of not rushing a rookie.
Good for the Giants for getting a piece of their quarterback plan. But the most important part is that future. They need him.
The seats underneath Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll were scolding hot toward the end of last season. John Mara met with both. They put forth a plan that convinced him the right move was to give them another year. Mara, who later met with the media, stressed the need for them to find their future franchise quarterback this offseason.
They’ve certainly left no stone unturned. They went all-in for Matt Stafford before he returned to the Rams. They went all-in on Aaron Rodgers, although he reciprocated none of that love. So they pivoted.
But should anyone believe the plan that kept pink slips from their desks was Wilson, Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito and Jaxson Dart? Or Jalen Milroe? Will Howard?
Would Mara really accept a “Well, we tried!” excuse for, again, missing out on a franchise quarterback? That makes no sense.
A veteran plus a rookie was always the plan. They got one of the veterans they wanted. Now they need the young star.
The top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft are Ward (Miami) and Sanders (Colorado). The Giants were confident leaving the NFL Combine they had what it took to move up to No. 1 with the Titans. The belief, having talked to multiple sources, was the pick would be for Ward. Since then, the Titans’ willingness to move down has changed. They seem locked on drafting Ward for themselves. That’s fine. It leaves the Giants with Sanders.
There’s a theory floating around now that Wilson’s arrival opens options for Schoen in the draft. Cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter would fill two needs for the team. Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter could right the Giants’ wrong for passing on Micah Parsons so many years ago.
Draft one of them. Roll with Wilson. Look for a wild-card quarterback in the second round or later.
Maybe that’s what Schoen is thinking. Maybe he will stick to his board and draft the best player available.
It would be silly.
The Giants signed a quarterback in Wilson. But the Giants still need to find their quarterback.
That happens April 24. Not March 24.
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