Quarterback-needy Giants Should Beware if Eyeing These Prospects

The New York Giants plan to address the quarterback position, but Pro Football Focus believes these two top prospects come with a "buyer beware" label.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen confirmed the team will be adding to the quarterback room and hasn't ruled out doing so via the draft, where the Giants currently sit sixth in the draft order.

While it's a longshot of any of the top three quarterback prospects--USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels, and UNC's Drake Maye--falling to the Giants in the first round, if Williams should happen to fall, Pro Football Focus's John Kosko has a "buyer beware" warning regarding Williams.

Williams was phenomenal when throwing in the rhythm and timing of the play in 2023, earning a 93.2 grade with 15 big-time throws and just one turnover-worthy play. He was even more impressive as a freshman at Oklahoma, posting a 95.2 grade and 11 big-time throws to zero turnover-worthy plays on 117 fewer dropbacks.

Throwing out of rhythm is the “beware” part of Williams' game. He took himself out of the rhythm of the play, the second most often of all draft-eligible quarterbacks (behind only Drake Maye). Essentially, when he had an open receiver to throw to, Williams passed him up and tried to extend the play for virtually no reason.

He wasn’t pressured, and the coverage didn’t (or shouldn’t have) confused him. Of the 11 draft-eligible quarterbacks on PFF's big board, Williams had the second-lowest percentage of in-rhythm throws in 2023. His grade when out of rhythm? 44.4, third worst. While doing so, he generated the most big-time throws (nine) and the most turnover-worthy plays (14).

Again, it's unlikely the Giants get anywhere near Williams on draft night, but a second signal caller who could fall to the Giants on Day 2 happens to be another quarterback about whom Kosko has some reservations, and that is Washington's Michael Penix Jr.

After [Michael] Penix's standout semifinal playoff game, some analysts were talking about him being drafted in the top half of the first round. He delivered the most impressive outing of his career in the biggest game to date. However, he was then exposed against Michigan’s defense in the national championship game.

Accuracy was a red flag in Penix’s game this year. Of the top 11 quarterbacks on PFF’s big board, Penix is tied for the worst uncatchable inaccurate pass rate (22.9%). While this isn't a nail in the coffin for his NFL prospects, the best quarterback prospects in recent years have generally been below 20% in that metric.

Schoen spent the fall attending the college games of the top prospects whenever possible. He has not indicated which quarterback prospect he has his eye on and has reiterated his faith in incumbent Daniel Jones.

But with the Giants being in such a good position to get a young quarterback from a deep class, there should be plenty of choices for him to choose from, assuming he finds prospects with both the talent and the demeanor to handle the pressure cooker that is the New York market satisfactorily.

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