The New York Giants and their fans are forced to embrace the duality of life in the NFL's basement.
The best thing for the 2024 Giants is to find a way to beat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon and avoid setting the longest losing streak in franchise history.
That also might be the worst thing for the future.
Because what would be their 10th consecutive loss has a chance to also set the Giants up to claim the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Giants are currently projected to hold the No. 2 pick, according to Tankathon.com, behind the Las Vegas Raiders, who boast the same 2-12 record and would win the tiebreaker that is based on strength of schedule (SOS).
But here's the scenario that'll be in play: the Raiders are favorites to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 4:25 p.m. kickoff, and if they win, Antonio Pierce's team would drop out of the top spot if the Giants lose.
If the Giants lose their final three games, they're guaranteed to clinch no worse than No. 2 in the draft next April.
It's believed the Giants and Raiders will be in the hunt for a quarterback with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward currently viewed as the top two in the Class of 2025. Deion Sanders, Shedeur's father and head coach at Colorado, came out last weeked insisting that it is false that he does not want his son to play for the Giants, or any other team besides the Raiders.
The Giants have already done extensive homework on Shedeur Sanders, with general manager Joe Schoen and his top personnel aides spending time on campus in Boulder at a recent Buffaloes' practice. Not only is Shedeur a top pick potentially, but cornerback/wide receiver and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter could be the best non-quarterback prospect in the draft.
Schoen has also scouted Ward in person this season. The pre-draft evaluation process will kick into high gear after the college and NFL regular seasons.
Before any offseason moves are made, the Giants right now have seven total picks in next April's draft.
Here's the list of all seven selections the G-Men currently have in the 2025 NFL Draft: