Which Top Quarterback Prospect is Best Fit for Giants?

Which of the top quarterback prospects best fits the Giants' offense and why?

Quarterback Jayden Daniels / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA

Many New York Giants fans hope the team drafts a quarterback this year and doesn't wait too long to do so. The team's brass, while publicly supportive of incumbent Daniel Jones, has certainly looked like a team intent on drafting a quarterback, given all the research they've been doing on the available talent in this year's draft.

While it certainly looks like a quarterback will be among the team's current six picks, a hot topic of debate, besides whether the Giants should do whatever is necessary to move up in the draft to select a quarterback from among the top three (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye), is which one is the right one for them?

Williams is the consensus top prospect in the draft. At 6-1, he's not the prototype height, but he does have a well-built frame. Of course, he possesses the arm strength and can make all throws necessary. What makes him special is his elusiveness and improvisational skills.

His ability to make off-platform throws is the best quarterback in the draft. He also possesses the speed to do damage when he pulls it down to run. Defenses will need to be disciplined in their pass rush against him.

The one question about Williams is his ability to handle the pressure that comes with the expectations of being an NFL quarterback.

Daniels went from a projected Day 3 pick before the start of the 2023 season to a likely top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Because of his slight build, he's taller than many realize, but at 6-4, he has the height you look for in a passer who needs to navigate amongst the behemoths of this game.

He has the arm talent to get the job done by passing the ball, but he also possesses a nuclear option when he decides to run the football. He is also the most experienced of the three top prospects, which should help him as he transitions into the NFL, but that experience also opens up questions about whether the 23-year-old has reached his ceiling.

Maye is this draft's 6-4, 223-pound package of promise. He has the arm talent to compare to anyone playing the position. He is also a good athlete and can move the chains with his legs.

For as much as he accomplished in his two seasons as a starter, he still is a bit of a moldable prospect, and his potential is so attractive to NFL franchises. He makes some extremely high-level throws in games and shows a tremendous ability to function in the pocket.

His issue is that he does not consistently show these things. He also tends not to put his best foot forward in the highest-level competitions.

So, which quarterback would be the best fit for the Giants' goals? They need a playmaker at the position, not just a game manager who emphasizes protecting the football or a splash player who does not show consistency.

They need a guy who can march the offense down the field, distribute the ball to multiple targets, and march the team down the field with him on their back, either by one big play or multiple plays that he keeps alive.

Players like Jalin Hyatt and Daruis Slayton need a quarterback who has faith in their ability to run down passes thrown beyond the defense. Wandale Robinson’s run-after-catch ability needs someone who can get him the ball and give him the chance to make a move after he grabs it.

It is clear that Tyrod Taylor unlocked the receiving corps' big-play ability last season with his willingness to throw down the field. That, combined with the team’s desire for their quarterback to be a plus runner, points to Daniels as the best fit. Daniels is a bigger, faster, 11-year-old Taylor. He has the perfect blend of pocket poise with his explosive elements once he decides to run.

Like Taylor, Daniels throws the best deep ball of any prospect in the last few drafts. This talent helped unlock Malik Nabors' full potential and led to a Heisman trophy-level season down in Baton Rouge last season.

If you compare Daniels' abilities with those of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who is a Brian Daboll pupil, the things that made the Bills offense so dangerous were Allen’s ability to run and the deep ball. Daniels has both qualities, and they are at a higher level than the other two quarterbacks at the top of this draft.

Daniels’ equal comfort operating from inside or outside of the pocket is a unique combination not seen often. This is why he would be the ideal choice to help unlock the full potential of this Giants offense.

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