Giants mock draft reaction: How would Shedeur Sanders fit in New York?

Tis the season! Mock draft season, that is.

Seven straight losses and elimination from postseason contention is more than enough motivation for frustrated New York Giants fans to focus on the future.

So, let’s get into it. The 2-10 Giants don’t have a franchise quarterback on the roster but could be in a position to select one in the upcoming NFL Draft. In fact, the Giants currently have a 30% chance of picking No. 1 overall, according to The Athletic’s projection model. It’s only December, so the next five weeks will certainly shake up the draft order, but it seems likely the Giants will be at least picking in the top five.

If the season ended today, they’d be picking at No. 3, which brings us to the first Dane Brugler mock draft of the season. The Athletic’s draft expert took a shot at projecting how the first round would shake out, and he has the Giants selecting Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the No. 3 pick.

Let’s analyze his selection:

So, the Giants finally draft a QB

The franchise hasn’t selected a quarterback in the draft since taking Daniel Jones with the No. 6 pick in 2019. Of course, that didn’t go so well, as Jones’ days in New York are over, and the Giants have no one on the roster they can entrust with their future.

Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito have proven themselves to be backup options, at best, so the Giants need a new QB1. Depending on where they end up picking in the draft, they could look to sign a free agent (Sam Darnold? Justin Fields?) or trade for a veteran (Kirk Cousins?) to give them a bridge option in case they can’t draft someone.

Obviously, the best option would be selecting a franchise pillar in the draft. But how many of those are available in this class? Evaluators are divided. Right now, Brugler only has two QBs going in the first round, which is why draft positioning is going to be paramount for the Giants.

In this case, the Giants land one of the top two options, taking Sanders at No. 3, one spot after the Las Vegas Raiders selected Miami QB Cam Ward at No. 2.

Who is Sanders?

Before we get into the “Prime” conversation, let’s start with the pure evaluation. Here’s how Brugler described the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Sanders in his most recent Big Board, which had the soon-to-be 23-year-old QB ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect:

“There is a lot to like about Sanders’ package of skills. He is poised, tough and accurate with a natural feel for touch and layering the football. But one of the main concerns is the inconsistent way he manages the pocket, drifting or welcoming negative plays by holding onto the football. The blame for the number of sacks Sanders has taken at Colorado doesn’t entirely fall on the offensive line.”

Sanders reminds me of Jordan Love, but without the high-end physical traits, because they both use athletic movements to skillfully access different throwing platforms. Sanders doesn’t have Love’s size or arm strength, however, which is a concern when playing that style of game. Nonetheless, Sanders’ ball placement and toughness will give him a chance to become an established NFL starter.”

Now, let’s get to that famous surname because there’s more to Sanders than just the scouting profile. The team that drafts him is also getting his father, NFL Hall of Famer and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. “Coach Prime” has already said he will “privately” intervene if the wrong NFL team drafts his son. In an appearance on Fox Sports 1’s “Speak,” the elder Sanders, who has coached his son throughout his career, declined to name any teams he wants his son to play for. Instead, he highlighted traits, including the “infrastructure of the team,” he would be looking for from the franchise that drafts Shedeur.

Do the Giants have the type of infrastructure the elder Sanders is looking for? We might find out.

How could Sanders help the Giants?

When asked recently which quarterback would be the best fit for the Giants, Brugler paired New York with Ward. But in this mock draft world with Ward off the table, it was Sanders landing in New York.

As Brugler notes in his mock draft, Sanders is “arguably the most polarizing prospect” in this class. Some evaluators see him as an adequate NFL starter, while others are more optimistic.

“I don’t know how the Giants feel,” Brugler said,” but I do believe Brian Daboll can get the most out of Sanders in the NFL.”

That’s going to be the key for Daboll or whoever the next head coach is. The focus will need to be on getting the quarterback correct and putting him in the best position to succeed.

Giants brass has been spotted multiple times at Colorado this season, which isn’t surprising given the team’s need at the position. But it’s safe to say they’ve been putting in their time on Sanders.

Beyond Sanders’ play, the big question will come with Sanders’ personality and how he could fit in the New York market. Brugler doesn’t think Sanders would be a bad fit, given some of those external factors.

“Like his father, Sanders’ confidence easily can be mistaken for arrogance,” Brugler said. “But he doesn’t allow outside pressure to shrink his on-field play, and his Colorado teammates love him.”

If he could bring that confidence — and some wins — to New York, Giants fans would surely love him, too.

(Photo of Shedeur Sanders: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)