Big Apple return: Could Zach Wilson help Giants under center in 2025?

The real story coming out of Black Monday wasn’t the coaches and general managers that teams chose to fire. It was the coaches and general managers teams chose to keep. When Giants team president John Mara chose to keep Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, Mara gave them one job.

“The No. 1 thing that Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen have to hit out of the park, they’ve got to find a quarterback,” said former player Chase Daniel on the Scoop City podcast Tuesday. “And quite honestly, I do not care if it’s a rookie, I do not care if it’s a stud they trade for. Spend $50 million a year, I don’t care. That will be the deciding factor. Next year at this time, if they’re back, it’ll be, ‘Yes, because we found a quarterback.’”

Here’s the problem, though. When the Giants beat the Colts in Week 17, they fell out of contention for a top-two selection in the 2025 draft. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are reportedly the only two quarterbacks with consensus first-round grades. New York enters the offseason with the No. 3 choice, meaning Tennessee (No. 1) and Cleveland (No. 2) could immediately select those two quarterbacks.

That would leave the Giants without the rebound path teams like Washington and Denver have used to make the playoffs this year. In that scenario, New York would hope to continue the NFL’s current trend of veteran quarterbacks rebooting their careers.

One potential option would be former Jets first-round selection Zach Wilson, now a backup to Bo Nix with Sean Payton in Denver. Unexpectedly replacing an injured Aaron Rodgers in 2023, Wilson was 4-7 in 12 games, with a 77.2 passer rating. In 2024, Rodgers won five of his 17 starts.

In that scenario, Wilson would follow a trail blazed by Sam Darnold, who left the Jets and spent a year in the 49ers’ quarterbacks room before leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record in 2024. Darnold could potentially be available via free agency.

And if Schoen and Daboll can solve the all-important quarterback issue, their cupboard is full of talent. New York’s roster includes wide receiver Malik Nabers, running back Tyrone Tracy and defensive back Dru Phillips.

Rookie, reclamation project or bridge, Schoen and Daboll have a clear referendum. Check the airspace over MetLife Stadium in 10 months to determine their status.

For more information on the Giants and the NFL hiring cycle, visit the N.Y. Giants teampage and Coach/GM Carousel page at ProFootballPost.com.