The buzz at the NFL Combine suggests the New York Giants are prioritizing a trade for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on February 26. This sentiment was echoed by other insiders, including The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton took it a step further, making a bold prediction on social media: “The Giants will make a strong push to trade for Matthew Stafford. If they don’t get him, I believe they’ll trade up to No. 1 with the Titans for their quarterback before the April 24 NFL Draft.”
Stapleton also speculated that if the Titans aim to move back but stay in the top three to target players like edge rusher Abdul Carter or cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, the trade cost might be lower than expected. With insights from The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler, Stapleton suggested the price could range from two third-round picks (plus the No. 3 pick) to a second-rounder and a third-rounder (plus the No. 3 pick), but likely wouldn’t include an additional first-round pick.
If the Giants do trade up to No. 1, they’ll face a decision between quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Stapleton noted that the Giants’ front office has yet to meet with Ward privately, as he hasn’t attended events like the Shrine Bowl or Senior Bowl. This week’s Combine will be the first opportunity for Ward to sit down with head coach Brian Daboll, diagram plays, and answer questions. Stapleton emphasized that the Giants’ evaluation process could shift dramatically after this week, with both Ward and Sanders undergoing the same rigorous assessment.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen acknowledged the team’s openness to trading up, down, or staying put with the No. 3 pick. Speaking at the Combine on February 25, Schoen described this stage as the “infancy” of their evaluation process. “We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said, adding that the Giants are considering three to seven players for the pick and exploring all trade scenarios. Schoen also stressed that even if they draft a quarterback, they plan to add a veteran signal-caller to the roster.
The Giants’ quarterback pursuit remains fluid, with Stafford as a potential short-term solution and a trade-up for Ward or Sanders as a long-term play. Schoen’s cautious approach suggests the team is weighing all options carefully, knowing this decision could define his and Daboll’s tenure in New York.
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