Giants facing dj vu moment with draft talk at center of Week 17 matchup
LAS VEGAS — It was almost exactly one year ago to the day. Return with us to Week 17 of the 2024 season, with the Giants in their post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s malaise that for the better part of a decade has been their annual state of being.There was nothing tangible to play for in the final two games, and the thoughts of fans — and, whether they want to admit it or not, a few of their front office executives — drifted away from the field and toward the upcoming draft. Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.
The Giants were 2-13 and oh-so-close to controlling their draft fate, and putting themselves in position with all the losing to be able to select quarterback Cam Ward with the top pick.There was no reason to believe they would win another game, but lo and behold they did.
Their here-today, gone-tomorrow itinerant quarterback, Drew Lock, tossed four touchdown passes and ran for another in a 45-33 victory over the Colts in a performance that seemingly came out of nowhere.The next week, on cue, the Giants lost to the Eagles’ B-team, ended up with the No.
3 pick and out of the running for Ward. In the minds’ of many, the Giants lost by winning. Here we go again, one year later. The Giants, again, are 2-13 and at the moment hold the No.1 spot in the 2026 draft.
All that stands between them and securing that prize pick is a loss Sunday at Las Vegas and a loss seven days later at home to the Cowboys.If that happens, the Giants can wait for teams interested in trading up to get Fernando Mendoza or possibly Dante Moore, knowing they have a quarterback, Jaxson Dart, and can gain a bounty of picks from a team that needs one of their own. So, if the Giants beat the Raiders, the losing-by-winning discussion will begin anew. “I guess you could say it feels a little similar, just losing so many in a row,” wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said.
“But that Colts win, it was a...