The Daniel Jones chapter in New York Giants history has officially closed, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a search for a new franchise quarterback. While that might signal an immediate move to draft a rookie passer, the Giants appear to be taking a more deliberate approach. General manager Joe Schoen is considering multiple top prospects, including Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Penn State’s Abdul Carter, before potentially selecting Shedeur Sanders — the highly regarded Colorado quarterback widely viewed as the second-best in the 2025 draft class behind Cam Ward, who is expected to be the first overall pick.
The Giants have already invested significant time and resources into evaluating Sanders. Representatives from the team have attended several of his games, observed him during practices, and held multiple meetings with him throughout the pre-draft process. Their thorough scouting efforts have taken them to Boulder, Colorado — also the current workplace of Pat Shurmur, Colorado’s offensive coordinator and former Giants head coach. Shurmur, who has a complicated legacy in East Rutherford, weighed in on Sanders with a comparison that may not sit well with Giants fans.
In a conversation with Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, Shurmur drew a direct comparison between Shedeur Sanders and Daniel Jones. He praised both as exceptional individuals and accomplished college quarterbacks who have the potential to succeed in the NFL. According to Shurmur, the two share similar football character traits and skill sets — including accuracy and composure under pressure. He emphasized Sanders’ standout 2024 season under his guidance, where the quarterback threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, completing 74 percent of his passes and averaging 8.7 yards per attempt — all leading marks in the Big 12.
Shurmur also coached Daniel Jones during his rookie season in New York, a campaign that ended with a 4-12 record but saw Jones throw for 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. From a scouting perspective, Sanders and Jones both present profiles centered on precision and discipline within structure, though they have each been criticized for limited physical upside. Despite Jones’ shortcomings at the professional level, the Giants may see in Sanders a more seasoned and adaptable version — one who has shown resilience behind shaky offensive lines and an ability to make plays out of structure.
Expressing strong belief in Sanders’ future, Shurmur described him as a highly accurate passer with a clutch gene and strong leadership qualities. He noted Sanders’ ability to perform in high-pressure situations and highlighted his character and teamwork. While Sanders has yet to lock in his spot as the third overall pick, he remains a top contender. Hunter and Carter are also making compelling cases for selection in that range, but Shurmur made his preference clear — if it were up to him, Sanders would be the Giants’ next quarterback.
“I can’t believe there’s a better quarterback around this year than him,” Shurmur concluded. “Whichever team drafts him is going to be very, very happy they did.”
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