New York Giants president and CEO John Mara made it clear after the 2024 season: if he doesn’t see major improvements in 2025, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will be out.
With no quarterbacks under contract except exclusive rights free agent Tommy DeVito, Schoen and Daboll are in a tough spot—and the latest free agency buzz isn’t making things any easier.
On January 21, USA Today’s Giants Wire contributor John Fennelly ranked the Giants’ top 13 quarterback options for 2025, considering both veterans and draft prospects. His top choice? “Either” Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, with the assumption that the Pittsburgh Steelers will retain one of them.
While targeting Fields or Wilson could involve pairing them with a first- or second-round rookie, relying on a young quarterback from a weak draft class doesn’t seem ideal given Mara’s expectations.
The problem? Both Fields and Wilson are already being linked to other teams, making the Giants’ quarterback search even more complicated.
Potential Giants’ QB Targets Justin Fields & Russell Wilson Have Been Connected to Steelers & Raiders
Over the past several days, the market for both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson has started to take shape.
First, the Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll, Wilson’s former head coach from his Super Bowl-winning days with the Seattle Seahawks. Then, on January 24, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported that Wilson and Carroll have “mended fences” since Wilson’s departure from Seattle, making a reunion in Las Vegas a real possibility.
Wilson himself praised Carroll during a January 22 appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, calling him a “special coach,” a “culture builder,” and an “amazing individual.”
Meanwhile, Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II confirmed on January 27 that the team plans to extend either Fields or Wilson before free agency begins. Most Pittsburgh insiders believe Fields will be the choice, given his youth and first-round pedigree.
That brings more bad news for the Giants. On January 29, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler built on Howe’s report, stating that a Wilson-Carroll reunion is very much in play. He noted that two of Carroll’s former assistants believe the coach and quarterback can coexist again, with one even predicting Wilson will sign with the Raiders.
Fowler also revealed that Wilson and Carroll began rekindling their relationship over a year ago, and per his sources, both sides seem open to the idea—especially considering the underwhelming quarterback class in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Giants’ Quarterback Options Could Be Rookie or Bust if Justin Fields & Russell Wilson Sign Elsewhere
While nothing is set in stone, the tea leaves suggest that Justin Fields could remain in Pittsburgh, while Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll may reunite in Las Vegas. That’s great for the Steelers and Raiders, but it would leave the Giants scrambling for a quarterback—again.
That brings us back to John Fennelly’s list of QB options. Was he right in assuming Fields and Wilson were the Giants’ best choices?
The draft presents intriguing possibilities like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, who could generate more excitement than Wilson. However, most experts believe both prospects would benefit from sitting behind a veteran in year one.
There are also potential trade options like Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, and Aaron Rodgers, who ranked second, 10th, and 11th on Fennelly’s list. But none of them are guaranteed to hit the market, and the Giants would prefer to sign a cap casualty rather than trade assets to absorb an existing contract.
Beyond that, the options get bleak—lower-ranked draft prospects like Jalen Milroe and Jaxon Dart, or borderline starters such as Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, and Jameis Winston.
One name Fennelly dismissed—perhaps too quickly—is Sam Darnold. He ranked Darnold as the 13th and least likely QB target, citing his expected price tag as a major issue.
The Giants are still dealing with Daniel Jones’ contract, and Darnold’s market value could create similar risks. Given these financial concerns, Fennelly labeled Darnold to the Giants as “unlikely.”
However, with limited alternatives, could desperation push Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll toward Darnold after all?
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