Giants Country

New York Giants Mailbag: Bonus Edition

Let's check in with the readers to see what's on their minds this week.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag
New York Giants Mailbag | Patricia Traina | New York Giants on SI

In this story:

New York Giants

If you'd like to submit a question for the New York Giants On SI weekly mailbag, please use the link below or post your questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) to @Patricia_Traina, hashtag #askPTrain. Please note that letters may be edited for clarity/length.

A quick word before diving into this mailbag. I received some duplicate questions, so I answered the first one that came up in the queue.  Also because I need questions for Saturday's mailbag, I held a few of those for the weekend. The mailbag remains open if you want to get a question in for Saturday.

Dillon Gabriel
Feb 1, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) warms up before the 2025 Senior Bowl football game against the American Team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Do the Giants have any interest in Dillion Gabriel from Oregon? Also, have they ever considered trading the number 3 pick to Green Bay for Malik Willis? -- Dennis C.

Not that I’ve heard, though I suspect they’ve done their homework on him. And no, they’re not trading the third overall pick in the draft for a guy with 18 NFL games under his belt.

Crickets. Seriously, we just posted a piece about how it's surprising that no one has made a move for him, at least as far as we know. All the more reason why it's looking like a massive blunder on Joe Schoen's part not to trade him when he had the chance.

I wouldn’t say there is anything “definitely” off the table, but if they were to trade for Cousins, they probably wouldn’t be able to trade much, if any, in the draft, let alone to trade up for a quarterback if they wanted one of Sanders or Ward. So I would say on a scale of one through ten, with ten being a definite that they’d trade for Cousins, I’ll go with one.

If it’s not going to be Aaron Rodgers–and at this point, I think I’d be shocked if it were, given how long this is dragging out–then if you look at the pattern of quarterbacks that the Giants have pursued, it would have to be someone that has Super Bowl experience. 

So that would probably mean Joe Flacco, with whom they’ve already met. He’s not the most ideal option, as I’m not sure he’s a fit for the offense. But with the options drying up. The Giants seemingly want a specific type of veteran mentor for their next franchise quarterback, I suspect Flacco would be the next option unless Kirk Cousins is released. 

I need to see what kind of contract Greg Van Roten got, but I would think that the hope is for Neal to make a successful conversion inside to guard to where maybe now they don’t have to worry about the offensive line. And if Neal doesn’t make the conversion, then I suspect Van Roten is the fallback plan.

I think that was the plan, but that said, you also need a veteran to help a rookie acclimate. They did it for Eli Manning and set that up for Daniel Jones. So, I would expect them to want to do it again for whoever they draft. But again, the contract they give to a veteran quarterback will tell us the story of their intentions.

I could live with that plan. But again, it all depends on who is on the board. I wouldn't be upset if they took Cam Ward at No. 3.

Have you forgotten about Bobby Okereke and Darius Muasau?

Milton intrigues me as a young prospect, but if you're talking about your veteran option, then no. He doesn't have the Super Bowl or postseason pedigree that the Giants seem to want in a veteran.

Doesn't appear to be at this time.

I doubt it. But then again I haven't heard of what they plan to do regarding their uniforms.

If he's healthy, Jermaine Eluemunor.

My guess–and I’m saying this before seeing Greg Van Roten’s contract numbers–is they’re going to have a competition and will see if Evan Neal can make the successful conversion. Van Roten could end up being the fallback plan.

I don't think so, I think they would pivot to Joe Flacco and possibly even make a call to the Falcons about Kirk Cousins if they were really desperate.

Right now, it's anyone's guess who the veteran quarterback will be. I think, in order of team preference, it is Rodgers, Wilson, Flacco, and Cousins. That's just my guess. As for the third overall pick in the draft, I need to see if they have to end up making a trade with Atlanta for Cousins.

If not, I would go Abdul Carter if Ward/Sanders are off the board--and I think there's a very good chance the Titans take Ward given how they've focused on building up their offensive line so far in free agency.

These things take time, you know. It's not exactly like these guys are banging down the Giants' doors, waiting for them to sign them. Wilson is exploring his options, as he should. As for Rodgers, he's always been like this, so why is this a surprise?

Ask me again after the draft. The roster is far from being complete and the quarterback means everything.

No on Diggs, and all signs point to yes on Neal cross-training at guard.

Remember how last year I was screaming for a quarterback in the draft just in case things didn't work out with Daniel Jones? Now you know why.

Again, Rodgers, like Stafford, Wilson, and Flacco, have been to and won a Super Bowl. This has nothing to do with them being one quarterback away from winning a Super Bowl. This has to do with getting a guy in here who has been to the top of the mountain to mentor the next draft pick and who knows what it takes to be successful at the very top.

More New York Giants Coverage

New York Giants On SI Social Media

Published | Modified
Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

Share on XFollow Patricia_Traina
Home/Big Blue+