Getty Ex-Giants QB Kyle Lauletta.
For an abbreviated stint, somewhere between Daniel Jones’ arrival in East Rutherford and the twilight years of the Eli Manning era, Kyle Lauletta was perceived as the likely heir apparent under center for the Giants.
Of course, the hype surrounding the Richmond product never quite translated to success at the NFL level, as he quickly fizzled out in New York after just one season. However, on February 22, the 26-year-old signal-caller was gifted another opportunity to rewrite the trajectory of his playing career, as he was selected by the Pittsburgh Maulers with the No. 7 overall pick in the first-ever USFL draft.
Nailed our first pick 🔨
Welcome to the squad, Kyle Lauletta.
The United States Football League is a new eight-team league that will kick off its 10-game regular season on April 16 and run through July 3, 2022.
Lauletta’s Time With the Giants
The first quarterback selected by Big Blue during Dave Gettleman’s stint as New York’s general manager, Lauletta was the No. 108 overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft. Selected with a pick the Giants originally received from the Buccaneers in exchange for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Lauletta arrived in New York after a record-setting college career where he finished as the University of Richmond’s all-time leader in passing yards (10,465) and passing touchdowns (73).
Unfortunately for Lauletta, his career with the Giants — or across the NFL for that matter — never quite materialized. Despite beating out Davis Webb for a roster spot behind Eli Manning as a rookie, he failed to push for legitimate snaps. In total, he threw only five passes (completing zero) during his tenure with the Giants. The team would go on to waive Lauletta the next season during final roster cuts after using the No. 6 overall selection on Jones.
Lauletta’s most noteworthy moment was neither an on-the-field moment nor a positive moment in general. On October 30, 2018, the quarterback was arrested in Weehawken, New Jersey, on his way to the Giants’ facility. He was charged with eluding police and resisting arrest, via SNY. Ron Zeitlinger of NJ.com reported that during the incident, Lauletta “came close to striking the officer with his vehicle.”
Since his Giants exit, Lauletta has bounced around the league tons, spending time with the Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars and most recently, the Browns for a second stint.
Clayton Thorson Drafted Ahead of Lauletta
In what is likely a telltale sign of the mid-level quarterback talent recently employed by the Giants, Big Blue appears to be a G League team of sorts for the newly-formed USFL. Lauletta was one of three former NFL quarterbacks with ties to the franchise that were selected in the first eight picks.
At No. 5 overall, the Houston Gamblers snagged Clayton Thorson. A former fifth-round pick of the Eagles, Thorson has spent chunks of the past two seasons floating between New York’s active roster and practice squad.
POCKET ACES 🂡
Clayton Thorson is a Gambler. #AllIn
Three picks later, the New Orleans Breakers chose Kyle Sloter with their first-round selection. Sloter, a preseason darling with the Broncos and Vikings back in 2017-2018, has tried out with the Giants on numerous occasions over the past two seasons.
With the 8th pick in the #USFLDraft, the Breakers select Kyle Sloter 🌊
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