It is perhaps the worst-kept secret in the NFL…
…the New York Giants are in the market for a new quarterback.
They are flirting with an Aaron Rodgers-NY reunion, and yet even if that came to fruition, he is not the long-term answer.
So, let us discuss an intriguing option, one with “boom or bust” written all over it – Shedeur Sanders, son of legendary cornerback Deion Sanders and Colorado quarterback.
I believe the conversation around Sanders to the Giants needs expanding beyond college numbers.
Teams know he is accurate, they know he has faced adversity behind a porous offensive line, and they know he can get the best out of top-tier wide receiver talent as he showed with Travis Hunter.
Let us look past the tape for a moment, and unpack what a Sanders at #3 selection might signify for the New York Giants.
Sanders swagger
Owner John Mara and General Manager Joe Schoen hitching their wagons – and potentially in Schoen’s case job security- to Sanders would represent a break from the norm when it comes to G-Men quarterbacks.
Sanders would arrive with both pedigree and personality that are about as far away from former quarterback Daniel Jones as possible.
Jones, whilst undeniably competitive, was unassuming if not awkward. He was not a motivator nor celebrity. This would not be the case with Shedeur.
Shedeur Sanders, Prime Time Jr., in the Big Apple is a recipe for media madness. He would bring a swagger and confidence to the signal-caller position the Giants have rarely had, if ever.
Eli Manning is a legend, and underrated comedian, but removed from being bullied by the media into backing himself as “elite”, his confidence was not often conveyed.
Sanders, I believe, would walk into the Giants facility day one and tell the world he will not fail, for he can not fail, for he is the son of Deion Sanders, and with that comes an expectation of excellence and Championships.
Swing for the fences?
I am not claiming that being the son of a Hall-of-Famer in terms of both football and self-belief guarantees success. At the end of the day, it will be his performances on the gridiron that will reflect that beyond all.
However, I am suggesting that it could provide a spark of confidence that could permeate through an organisation on the brink of modern irrelevancy.
The 2007 and 2011 New York Giants were the ultimate underdogs. This current iteration are dangerously teetering towards being the ultimate afterthoughts.
So, why not swing for the fences with Shedeur? He is a tempting paradoxical prospect of pro-ready yet not finished product. Could the Giants roll the dice and see if they can change their narrative?
