It’s 2018. The Giants are on the clock. Josh Allen is right there for the taking, but instead, they grab Saquon Barkley. Fast forward to 2025, and Allen’s out here winning MVPs while Saquon’s long gone (and has instantly lifted the Lombardi). But that Allen decision? It’s eating away at John Mara. Bad. Like ‘can’t sleep at night’ kind of bad. And now, with the Giants holding the No. 3 pick and staring down another QB decision, Mara’s not about to sit back and let déjà vu haunt him again.

“It’d better not take too long because I’ve just about run out of patience,” Mara said in January after retaining both Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. He sounded like a man who’s tired of watching the wrong quarterback thrive in someone else’s jersey. The vibe in New York? Tense. Schoen and Daboll are back—but only just. And Mara’s message couldn’t be clearer: win now, or don’t bother showing up next year. He’s not hinting anymore. He’s telling.

So here’s the Giants’ reality: they need a quarterback. Like, yesterday. Mara said it flat out—“That’s obviously the No. 1 issue for us going into this offseason.” Sure, they’re eyeing edge help, with Abdul Carter looking every bit like a generational pass-rusher. But ownership may have other plans.

Tony's Top Prospects For QB For GIANTS

VIEW ALL TONY'S PICKS ON THE BIG BOARD

According to insider Jordan Schultz, a source close to the team claims Mara is still kicking himself for not pushing harder for Allen in 2018. “He had his Eli successor in Allen and didn’t push for it. That’s stuck with him.” Now? That mistake might be steering this entire draft.

Enter Shedeur Sanders. Star. Swagger. Prime DNA. And—depending on how Thursday night shakes out—possibly the Giants’ next quarterback. Schultz says it’s not far-fetched that Mara steps in with a “It’s my team, I want the QB” type moment. Think Jerry Jones, but caffeinated. And if that happens? The whole draft board gets nuked.

But if the Giants don’t take Sanders at 3? Well, buckle up. Schultz suggests a wild slide could be coming—maybe all the way to pick 21 and Pittsburgh. Sounds crazy, right? But stranger things have happened.

Still, passing on a franchise QB twice in seven years just might be the kind of mistake Mara refuses to repeat. Especially when the last one just won MVP. So, maybe, we are looking at a draft where Sanders becomes a G-man.

Will Shedeur Sanders and the Giants fit?

Let’s talk fit. Just cold, hard scheme. Because if you strip away the Prime Time shine and look strictly at Xs and Os, Shedeur Sanders and the New York Giants might make sense. ESPN’s Ben Solak thinks so, too. “Systematically, the Giants are almost certainly the best fit for Sanders’ play style,” he wrote.

Why does that matter? Because Daboll and Kafka’s system plays right into Shedeur’s hands. The offense leans on spread looks, quick reads, and rhythm throws (even if he takes time to release under center, 3 secs, that’s fine!)—not exactly foreign territory for the Colorado product. Solak pointed out that RPOs aren’t the backbone of the scheme, which benefits Sanders, whose game thrives in controlled chaos and decisive execution. You’re not tossing him into a system that needs to be overhauled. You’re plugging him in.

Then there’s Malik Nabers. He is the NFL-ready guy who might turn Sanders’ rookie learning curve into a launchpad. “Malik Nabers gives the Giants a receiver who bears some resemblance to Hunter,” Solak added, referencing Shedeur’s old teammate. But Nabers might be better—bigger catch radius, sideline awareness, ability to break tackles in space. Pair him with Shedeur? That’s fireworks waiting to happen.

And let’s not forget the bodyguard: Andrew Thomas. Protecting the blindside like a veteran left tackle should, Thomas gives Shedeur a level of comfort most rookie QBs can only dream of. Sure, the line still needs work, but the foundation is there. Plus, with a mobile quarterback who’s more surgeon than scrambler, it’s not about running—it’s about buying that one extra beat.

The Giants have done their homework. Dinners, private workouts, 30 visits—you name it. They’ve kicked every tire on Sanders. So, if the picks are made at No. 3, don’t act surprised. They’ve been circling this wagon for a while. And maybe there’s a John Mara: ‘I want him’ involved as well.