E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he was one of only three sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls until the past few. Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

NOTHING IS CERTAIN AS WHETHER GIANTS WILL SEEK A 1ST ROUND QB

By Dave Klein
If the Giants are really serious about drafting a quarterback high in the first round in addition to signing a veteran free agent who might become the kid's mentor, the time to do it is fast-approaching.

But the important thing for them to remember, at least in this reporter's opinion, is not to fall victim to the glory and glamor of certain well-known veterans - who might only cause them to lose a ton of money in addition to a lot of games.

So let's hope that the name Aaron Rodgers is just a little teaser to the other teams in the same search.

Rodgers, best known for a sterling career in Green Bay, was signed by the Jets in 2023, well after his storied Packers' career, and last year he began to show signs of his age, 41.

He was also, according to reports, perhaps not quite as popular with his teammates as, say, the flu.

But he did turn in respectable numbers.

Well, so did Daniel Jones for the Giants in 2023 before they released him last season.

There are other names of those who might be available, but you should remember to take the Rams' Matthew Stafford off your lists.

He has re-signed with Los Angeles and besides, would have cost the Giants in the lofty atmosphere approximately $50 million for one season.

But there are others, perhaps not as expensive, who have had fruitful careers.

There are, for instance, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, Jameis Winston, Justin Fields (who may emerge as the Steelers' starter if Wilson is gone) and a few less accomplished others.

But they are still thinking about a quarterback selection with their third choice in the first round of the draft - or higher if they choose to trade up - and it stands to reason that the kid they take will be groomed to be the franchise quarterback, if not this season then certainly the next.

It is clearly a matter of economy, and the Giants would be making a financial mistake if they sign Rodgers, as they would have had they signed Stafford.

And it is well to remember that improving the offensive line will instantly make the quarterback - whoever he is - perform at a higher level.

At the moment, the two quarterbacks who are projected to go in the top five or so positions are Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, although the latter seems to be sliding down the pole a little and might last until the second half of the draft.

There is also the possibility that the Giants could make that high pick - but not a quarterback - and wait for the passer until the second round, where they will most likely find such as Jaxson Dart (Mississippi), Kyle McCord (Syracuse), Jalen Milroe (Auburn), Will Howard (Ohio State) and Quinn Evers (Texas).

Various scouts have offered similar opinions on Dart and Milroe, that they would be the next to be selected after Ward and Sanders, with some of the experts harboring the feeling that Dart may be an unexpected first-rounder.

Others almost certain to be in the top 10 include DT Mason Graham of Michigan, DE Derrick Harmon of Oregon, LB Abdul Carter of Penn State and OT Will Campbell of LSU.

The Giants could use any of the above, perhaps Campbell most of all.

So it isn't a sure think that their first round pick will be a quarterback ... it isn't certain that they'll sign a veteran as the "bridge quarterback" and it isn't certain if they'll keep the third spot or trade up - or down - depending what their final decision is on draft day.

And welcome to the circus..

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