The New York Giants and co-owner John Mara likely learned a few lessons after tying their franchise record with a ninth straight loss on Sunday.
First, it’s clear that fans are unhappy, and they have every right to be. A 2-12 record in the franchise’s 100th season is unacceptable, as are seven losing seasons in eight years.
There’s no need for banners flying over MetLife Stadium week after week, asking Mara to make changes. Everyone involved with the Giants is frustrated with the results.
The bigger lesson from Sunday’s 35-14 loss to the Ravens is the need to find a quarterback who can extend plays or create opportunities when nothing seems available.
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson showed exactly that on Sunday. He completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns, and ran for 65 yards on six carries. He was the key factor in the game.
The Giants are likely to have one of the top two picks in next year’s NFL draft. However, this is not a draft full of quarterbacks. Most of the projected top 10 picks are defensive players.
The Giants, whether it’s general manager Joe Schoen or someone else in charge, should look to trade and gather as many assets as they can to rebuild the team. At some point, they will need to pick a quarterback, but they shouldn’t rush into selecting one.
There are several quarterback options: Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, Cam Ward of Miami, Dillon Gabriel of Oregon, Quinn Ewers of Texas, and Jalen Milroe of Alabama.
The best advice for the Giants is to select the best player available in the draft, regardless of position. Defense was key to the Giants’ four Super Bowl victories, with quarterbacks like Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, and Eli Manning making timely plays.
Perhaps the Giants should go back to focusing on defense, like the teams Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick built in the 1980s.
Not every quarterback has to be the No. 1 overall pick. Great quarterbacks have been found later in the draft. Josh Allen of Buffalo was picked No. 7 overall. Patrick Mahomes was No. 10, Lamar Jackson was picked 32nd, and Jalen Hurts was chosen at No. 53. Tom Brady was picked No. 199 in the sixth round.
