How the Giants' win over Colts impacted their draft position

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Dec 29, 2024

Published in Football

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The Giants’ first win in nearly three months came with franchise-altering implications.

With Sunday’s 45-33 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium, the quarterback-needy Giants improved to 3-13 – and fell out of position for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.

The win put the Giants in line for the No. 3 overall pick — behind the New England Patriots at No. 1 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 2 — going into next week’s season finale, according to Tankathon.

The Patriots, who lost Saturday to the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Titans, who lost Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars, are also 3-13 but are projected to finish with higher picks due to their easier strengths of schedule.

Shortly after the Giants’ win, the Cleveland Browns – at 3-12 – took the field against the Miami Dolphins in a game that could further impact the draft order. Cleveland also boasts an easier strength of schedule than the Giants.

The Giants entered Sunday with sole possession of the NFL’s worst record, but the win dropped their odds of getting the No. 1 pick to only 5.1%, according to ESPN’s real-time draft order probability.

Following the Giants’ win, ESPN’s metrics gave the Patriots a 78.2% likelihood of picking No. 1. The Titans have an 11.9% chance.

The Giants are set to face the NFC East champion Eagles (13-3) in Philadelphia in Week 18. Philadelphia could rest some starters with the division wrapped up, but running back Saquon Barkley — who left the Giants in the offseason — is 101 yards away from the single-season rushing record.

The Patriots are set to host the Buffalo Bills (13-3) in Week 18. Buffalo does not have anything to play for in terms of seeding, as it already won the AFC East and is locked into the AFC’s No. 2 seed.

The Titans are set to host the Houston Texans (9-7), who won the AFC South and are locked into the AFC’s No. 4 seed.

And the Browns are set to face the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 18. The Ravens (11-5) have a one-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

Indeed, Sunday’s win, which snapped a 10-game losing streak, could prove costly for a Giants team that released quarterback Daniel Jones in November with no long-term replacement on the roster.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are the top quarterbacks in a draft that is widely considered to be weak at the position. Both are expected to be top-five picks.

The Patriots drafted their franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, last spring but could trade the No. 1 overall pick for a haul if they remain in that position. They could also draft Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, whom many evaluators consider the draft’s best overall player.

The Titans, meanwhile, are expected to explore quarterback options after alternating between Will Levis and Mason Rudolph to less-than-stellar results this season.

Another win by the Giants next week would further complicate their draft position, as the Jaguars, Jets, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears are all currently 4-12.