The New York Giants are sitting in rare territory-and not the good kind. Despite having a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart who’s shown flashes of real promise, a defensive front loaded with Pro Bowl-caliber talent, and an offensive-minded head coach tasked with turning things around, the Giants have stumbled to a 2-13 record. They've lost nine straight and are now staring down the final stretch of the season with more questions than answers.
But here’s the thing about being this bad: sometimes, it sets you up to get a whole lot better.
With just two games left, the Giants are in prime position to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s a powerful asset-especially when you already believe you’ve got your quarterback of the future in Dart.
If that’s truly the case, then New York doesn’t need to go QB hunting this spring. Instead, GM Joe Schoen could be looking at a golden opportunity to trade down, stockpile picks, and reshape this roster in a hurry.
And right across town, the New York Jets might be the perfect partner.
The Jets are in desperate need of a quarterback. Their current situation under center is as uncertain as it gets, and with top prospects like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore likely to be on the board at No. 1, the Jets could be ready to make a bold move.
They’ve got the ammo to do it, too-five first-round picks over the next two drafts. No other team in the league can match that kind of draft capital.
If Schoen is serious about building this team from the ground up, this is the kind of deal that could fast-track the process. Yes, it would mean helping out a crosstown rival. But when you’re 2-13 and trying to build something sustainable, rivalries take a back seat to roster-building.
Let’s break it down: the Giants have a young QB in Dart who’s shown enough to believe in. They’ve got a future WR1 in Malik Nabers, though they need a complementary receiver who can take pressure off him.
The offensive line still needs reinforcements, and the secondary has struggled to protect leads when the defense does manage to get them. A trade with the Jets could provide the picks to address all of those needs-and then some.
Meanwhile, the Jets have the cap space and draft flexibility to go all-in. With new leadership in Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, they could get aggressive in free agency to bolster the defense while handing the reins to a top rookie quarterback-whoever they believe is the future of their franchise.
Of course, all of this hinges on the Giants holding onto that No. 1 pick. That’s why Week 17’s matchup against the equally 2-13 Las Vegas Raiders suddenly carries massive implications-not for playoff positioning, but for draft leverage. A win could cost New York the top spot, and with it, the chance to cash in on a potentially franchise-altering trade package.
If the Giants do end up with the first overall pick, they’ll be in an enviable position: a team with a young quarterback already in place, a roster full of rookie-contract talent, and the ability to flip that top pick for a haul of draft assets. It’s the kind of setup that could turn a 2-13 disaster into a rapid rebuild-if they play their cards right.
For now, all eyes are on the final two weeks. Because for the Giants, losing might just be the first step toward finally winning again.