Joe Schoen sets high bar for Giants QB decision with No. 3 pick in NFL Draft

PALM BEACH — They might. Of course they might. But they do not have to. That is the undercurrent that came up to the surface on Monday when Giants general manager Joe Schoen for the first time discussed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and how those signings might affect the plan to take or pass on a quarterback with the No.3 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. “Going into it we can go any which direction and we can go play a game right now,” Schoen said.

“It doesn’t force you into a corner or force you to have to take something based on need.It gives us optionality to go in many different directions.” That is a strongly nuanced word there.

With Wilson and Winston as the starter and backup, in that order, Schoen knows there will be quarterbacks available to be selected, but he will not be obligated to take one of them.He set the bar high — extremely high — for the prerequisites a quarterback must have to be selected at No.

3.Figure that Cam Ward will go No.

1 to the Titans and that the Browns at No.2 might pass on Shedeur Sanders in favor of pass rusher Abdul Carter or cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.

That would leave Sanders on the board for the Giants and they would be inclined to go in another direction unless they view him as a truly elite prospect. “If you’re talking about where we’re picking, you’d like that guy to be able to be a franchise quarterback that you can win — you’re winning the NFC East every year, you’re trying, the ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl if you’re taking a guy that high,” Schoen said.“They got to be able to check those boxes.” At this point, the Giants are not yet finished with their draft evaluations.

They were on Sanders’ trail throughout his college season at Colorado, but they have yet to see him at his Pro Day — that comes on Friday in Boulder — and have yet to bring Sanders into their team facility for a top 30 visit.Will all those boxes eventually ...