- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 431,757
- Reaction score
- 44
General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have faced an offseason of decisions that will speak to the urgency of turning the franchise into a winner again. That comes with the obvious pressure under which everyone will be operating as they enter a pivotal fourth season in control of Big Blue.
The Giants' brass has to sell a plan to ownership, and for Schoen and Daboll, they also need to win. How much do they have to win? No one's inside the head of John Mara, so don't pretend like we know that answer.
But for Schoen and Daboll, finding a way to have the two separate tracks of this offseason convene at a common spot at some point in 2025 is the ultimate goal and challenge.
With NFL Draft festivities in Green Bay set to begin with the first round in primetime Thursday night, it's time to take one final swing at guessing the prospects who will be in play for the Giants.
So much is at stake for the Giants, who currently hold the No. 3 overall selection.
Cam Ward is expected to go to the Titans at No. 1, and multiple reports suggest the Cleveland Browns will go with Colorado's Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Sitting at No. 3, with the additions of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston at quarterback, what does that mean for the Giants and their prospects of taking a quarterback there?
Using the Pro Football Network Draft simulator, here is our final attempt at laying out a possible mock path for the Giants. Ward went to the Titans and the Browns took Travis Hunter. To me, when it comes down to it, a complicated decision comes with an easy solution: take the guy the Browns pass on.
"When you're this high in the draft, you draft players, not positions," the Athletic's draft analyst Dane Brugler said.
Carter plays with aggression and he's really good with his hands. This was his first year playing defensive end and on the edge, so there's no telling how good he can be with more experience at the position. His combination of athletic traits, explosiveness and potential upside is off the charts.
ESPN analyst Jordan Reid told NorthJersey.com and The Record that Carter has a similar upside as a pro to that of another former Penn State prospect that moved around from off-ball linebacker to the defensive front in rush packages: Cowboys star Micah Parsons.
The Giants are expected to pick up Kayvon Thibodeaux's fifth-year option, and Brian Burns is still among the league's best pass rushers and is ascending. Yet if any team has proven you can't have too many pass rushers, it's the Giants. Hunter is a special talent as well, so if the Browns - or someone else in a trade-up - take Carter, the Giants would run that card up as well.
By adding Carter to this defense, the Giants have created an identity. They can also chase ceiling in a quarterback a bit later on in the draft, and there will be avenues to explore.
Milroe's ceiling is too hard for me to ignore. Some of the accuracy issues he has as a passer reminds me of what we heard about Josh Allen coming out of Wyoming, and we all know Daboll was at the center of working through his transition to the pros in Buffalo.
In this draft simulation, Shedeur Sanders went ninth overall to the Saints. Based on recent speculation, though, I don't think that happens. If Sanders drops, I expect the Giants to explore a trade up from No. 34. I also would have considered Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart here, and I do believe he's a good possibility as well. Hearing the Saints have interest in Dart and Louisville's Tyler Shough. Here, the Browns selected Dart at 33, one spot ahead of the Giants.
I could also see Cleveland taking Milroe at 33, and if that happened, I would've gone with Dart.
As a runner, Milroe is by far the most dangerous playmaker at the position. With a year of learning behind Wilson and Winston, could he wind up drawing comparisons to Jalen Hurts? Give him time and swing for the fences.
Milroe has had his ups and downs at Alabama, but when things have been rolling, his game is electric. The pre-draft process has been fascinating as he steps into a different sort of spotlight for NFL teams seeking a certain presence at quarterback. Milroe certainly won't shrink from the challenge in the Meadowlands after having all eyes on him for two-plus years in Tuscaloosa. There's a lot of work to do for Milroe to reach his potential, but he's coachable and has a great way about him as a leader and a teammate. Provide consistency and a plan, and see it to fruition.
At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Alexander has the potential to change game plans with the way he can attack gaps. He’s an elite run defender and his ability as a pass-rusher has yet to be fully tapped. His combination of athleticism and sheer power with scheme versatility belies his smaller-school pedigree. Running a 4.8 40 opened eyes for sure at the Combine, and Alexander would be an ideal prospect to develop next to Dexter Lawrence and in a defensive line group that added some depth pieces in free agency.
The Sun Devils' star is not a burner, as evidenced by his 4.66 40 at the Combine. But timed speed and play speed are two different things, of course, and Skattebo is one of the more intriguing prospects whose evaluations are all over the map. His production for three years and his ability to finish plays with great balance and physicality gives him a chance to have an immediate impact in a committee with room to grow. NFL Network's Brian Baldinger compared Skattebo to the Lions' David Montgomery, and that plays as a complement to Tyrone Tracy for sure.
Fairchild is a physical player both as a run blocker and pass protector with good footwork and a solid base. He also has proven to be an effective pull blocker and has the athleticism and technique to regularly get the second level in the run game. Fairchild is still somewhat of a developmental prospect despite his 24 starts for the 'Dawgs, so this would be an ideal prospect to work with without forcing him into the lineup right away. Most of his experience has come at left guard, but there is some flexibility to his game.
Black was a three-year starter for the Cowboys, logging over 2,300 career snaps primarily lined up on the boundary, according to Pro Football Focus. He is a solid tackler while being efficient in coverage, allowing a career completion rate of only 53% with four career interceptions and 19 pass breakups. Met with the Giants at Big 12 Pro Day as well.
Pierce has an ideal combination of size and length (6-foot-8, 344 pounds), and the most appealing aspect of his game is the way he has rapidly improved in his career. The New Jersey native has yet to hit his ceiling, and in this spot, the Giants should be looking for an offensive lineman to develop and get the most out of while working behind veterans Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor. If Pierce excels fast enough, he would give the Giants much-needed young depth at a position reliant on proven players who are not easily replaceable.
I'll stick with Sheppard here. He is a very good route runner and he impressed at the East/West Shrine Bowl, which the Giants were all over. That's where they fell in love with Tyrone Tracy a year ago, and you can bet Daboll and Schoen have seen plenty of Sheppard as they have combed through all the tape of Shedeur Sanders. They recently had dinner with Sheppard, who also impressed at the Colorado Pro Day. He's 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and will be an under-the-radar developmental prospect.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants mock draft: Our final projection for 2025 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
The Giants' brass has to sell a plan to ownership, and for Schoen and Daboll, they also need to win. How much do they have to win? No one's inside the head of John Mara, so don't pretend like we know that answer.
But for Schoen and Daboll, finding a way to have the two separate tracks of this offseason convene at a common spot at some point in 2025 is the ultimate goal and challenge.
With NFL Draft festivities in Green Bay set to begin with the first round in primetime Thursday night, it's time to take one final swing at guessing the prospects who will be in play for the Giants.
Who will Giants draft in first round?
So much is at stake for the Giants, who currently hold the No. 3 overall selection.
Cam Ward is expected to go to the Titans at No. 1, and multiple reports suggest the Cleveland Browns will go with Colorado's Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Sitting at No. 3, with the additions of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston at quarterback, what does that mean for the Giants and their prospects of taking a quarterback there?
Giants mock draft: Every selection for Big Blue
Using the Pro Football Network Draft simulator, here is our final attempt at laying out a possible mock path for the Giants. Ward went to the Titans and the Browns took Travis Hunter. To me, when it comes down to it, a complicated decision comes with an easy solution: take the guy the Browns pass on.
Round 1, Pick 3: Abdul Carter, Edge/ILB, Penn State
"When you're this high in the draft, you draft players, not positions," the Athletic's draft analyst Dane Brugler said.
Carter plays with aggression and he's really good with his hands. This was his first year playing defensive end and on the edge, so there's no telling how good he can be with more experience at the position. His combination of athletic traits, explosiveness and potential upside is off the charts.
ESPN analyst Jordan Reid told NorthJersey.com and The Record that Carter has a similar upside as a pro to that of another former Penn State prospect that moved around from off-ball linebacker to the defensive front in rush packages: Cowboys star Micah Parsons.
The Giants are expected to pick up Kayvon Thibodeaux's fifth-year option, and Brian Burns is still among the league's best pass rushers and is ascending. Yet if any team has proven you can't have too many pass rushers, it's the Giants. Hunter is a special talent as well, so if the Browns - or someone else in a trade-up - take Carter, the Giants would run that card up as well.
By adding Carter to this defense, the Giants have created an identity. They can also chase ceiling in a quarterback a bit later on in the draft, and there will be avenues to explore.
Round 2, Pick 34: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Milroe's ceiling is too hard for me to ignore. Some of the accuracy issues he has as a passer reminds me of what we heard about Josh Allen coming out of Wyoming, and we all know Daboll was at the center of working through his transition to the pros in Buffalo.
In this draft simulation, Shedeur Sanders went ninth overall to the Saints. Based on recent speculation, though, I don't think that happens. If Sanders drops, I expect the Giants to explore a trade up from No. 34. I also would have considered Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart here, and I do believe he's a good possibility as well. Hearing the Saints have interest in Dart and Louisville's Tyler Shough. Here, the Browns selected Dart at 33, one spot ahead of the Giants.
I could also see Cleveland taking Milroe at 33, and if that happened, I would've gone with Dart.
As a runner, Milroe is by far the most dangerous playmaker at the position. With a year of learning behind Wilson and Winston, could he wind up drawing comparisons to Jalen Hurts? Give him time and swing for the fences.
Milroe has had his ups and downs at Alabama, but when things have been rolling, his game is electric. The pre-draft process has been fascinating as he steps into a different sort of spotlight for NFL teams seeking a certain presence at quarterback. Milroe certainly won't shrink from the challenge in the Meadowlands after having all eyes on him for two-plus years in Tuscaloosa. There's a lot of work to do for Milroe to reach his potential, but he's coachable and has a great way about him as a leader and a teammate. Provide consistency and a plan, and see it to fruition.
Round 3, Pick 65: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Alexander has the potential to change game plans with the way he can attack gaps. He’s an elite run defender and his ability as a pass-rusher has yet to be fully tapped. His combination of athleticism and sheer power with scheme versatility belies his smaller-school pedigree. Running a 4.8 40 opened eyes for sure at the Combine, and Alexander would be an ideal prospect to develop next to Dexter Lawrence and in a defensive line group that added some depth pieces in free agency.
Round 3, Pick 99: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
The Sun Devils' star is not a burner, as evidenced by his 4.66 40 at the Combine. But timed speed and play speed are two different things, of course, and Skattebo is one of the more intriguing prospects whose evaluations are all over the map. His production for three years and his ability to finish plays with great balance and physicality gives him a chance to have an immediate impact in a committee with room to grow. NFL Network's Brian Baldinger compared Skattebo to the Lions' David Montgomery, and that plays as a complement to Tyrone Tracy for sure.
Round 4, Pick 105: Dylan Fairchild, OG, Georgia
Fairchild is a physical player both as a run blocker and pass protector with good footwork and a solid base. He also has proven to be an effective pull blocker and has the athleticism and technique to regularly get the second level in the run game. Fairchild is still somewhat of a developmental prospect despite his 24 starts for the 'Dawgs, so this would be an ideal prospect to work with without forcing him into the lineup right away. Most of his experience has come at left guard, but there is some flexibility to his game.
Round 5, Pick 154: Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State
Black was a three-year starter for the Cowboys, logging over 2,300 career snaps primarily lined up on the boundary, according to Pro Football Focus. He is a solid tackler while being efficient in coverage, allowing a career completion rate of only 53% with four career interceptions and 19 pass breakups. Met with the Giants at Big 12 Pro Day as well.
Round 7, Pick 219: Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
Pierce has an ideal combination of size and length (6-foot-8, 344 pounds), and the most appealing aspect of his game is the way he has rapidly improved in his career. The New Jersey native has yet to hit his ceiling, and in this spot, the Giants should be looking for an offensive lineman to develop and get the most out of while working behind veterans Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor. If Pierce excels fast enough, he would give the Giants much-needed young depth at a position reliant on proven players who are not easily replaceable.
Round 7, Pick 246: Will Sheppard, WR, Colorado
I'll stick with Sheppard here. He is a very good route runner and he impressed at the East/West Shrine Bowl, which the Giants were all over. That's where they fell in love with Tyrone Tracy a year ago, and you can bet Daboll and Schoen have seen plenty of Sheppard as they have combed through all the tape of Shedeur Sanders. They recently had dinner with Sheppard, who also impressed at the Colorado Pro Day. He's 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and will be an under-the-radar developmental prospect.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants mock draft: Our final projection for 2025 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
