The New York Giants face Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 in a game that could reshape their future trajectory.
Currently tied for the league’s worst record and holding the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Giants find themselves at a crossroads.
With the Falcons arguably their weakest remaining opponent, a victory would drop the Giants in the draft order, which is intensifying debate among fans about whether winning is truly in the team’s best interest.
Former Giants running back and current New York radio host Tiki Barber has stepped into this heated discussion with a strong message against the growing calls to tank in order to draft Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
“In my mind, I can’t wrap my head around, the only thing that matters in this upcoming draft is getting one of these two quarterbacks, ’cause that’s essentially what those that are saying, ‘We need to tank and we need to lose these last three games,’ that’s what they’re saying,” Barber said, via WFAN Sports Radio.
Tiki warns Giants fans against rooting for losses the rest of the way:@EvanandTikiWFAN pic.twitter.com/x3lA0SD5oY
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) December 20, 2024
The notion of sacrificing everything for a shot at a top quarterback prospect particularly irks Barber.
He emphasizes that building a winning franchise requires more than just landing a highly touted draft pick, pointing out that no prospect — whether quarterback, left tackle or defensive end — comes with guaranteed success.
Though Sanders and Ward are widely regarded as the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft, Barber warns against the dangerous mindset of prioritizing draft position over team development.
His message resonates with those who believe that intentionally losing games could damage a team’s culture more than any single draft pick could repair.
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