We listen and we don’t judge. … Well, we’re going to judge a little. Sorry. But you asked for it.
Already this offseason, I’ve put together a seven-round New York Giants mock draft and have contributed to our staff mock draft. So this time, we decided to let you, the readers, take a crack at fixing the Giants. After all, it’s you we’re writing for, and we genuinely want to know what you think the Giants should do in April’s NFL Draft.
That said, we know it’s early. Free agency hasn’t even happened yet, so those of you who participated in our little exercise were operating without all of the information the Giants will have by late April. That’s fine. Mock drafting is supposed to be fun and informative, guiding us to conclusions about the best possible marriage between draft prospects and team needs. If you read this story with that in mind, you’ll have as much as we did putting it together.
As a reminder, the Giants are slated to make eight picks in this year’s draft, including one projected fourth-round compensatory pick for losing safety Xavier McKinney in free agency last year. Here is where the Giants are slated to pick with those Day 3 slots not finalized until the compensatory selections are made official:
Round 1, No. 3
Round 2, No. 34
Round 3, No. 65
Round 4
Round 4
Round 5
Round 7
Round 7
Given that later round uncertainty, I dialed in on the first two days in my analysis of your submissions. With that, onto your mock drafts!
John S.
Trade No. 3 overall and both third round picks to move to No. 1 and take Miami QB Cam Ward. This is along with signing Aaron Rodgers.
This is a short mock draft, but it’s accomplished my goal of getting the big debate out front and center, because let’s be real: Nothing matters more this offseason than the quarterback question.
If the cost is merely the No. 3 pick, this year’s third rounder (they’ve only got one) and next year’s third-rounder, that’s reasonable and makes sense to me to move up to No. 1 to get Ward. I’d say that’s also applicable if John meant both Day 2 picks this year and no assets next year. Ward is widely considered the No. 1 quarterback coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine, and in a class without many strong options, the Giants may have to make a big move to get their guy — if that is indeed Ward. But my concern is that John’s proposed cost doesn’t reflect what I believe the price to be. I don’t know for sure, but history suggests it will cost more than a pair of Day 2 picks to move up. And given the number of QB-hungry teams and the lack of top-tier options, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Titans use that leverage to their advantage.
Again, I could be wrong. In Dane Brugler’s post-combine mock draft, he also has the Giants trading up for the No. 1 pick to select Ward. And the compensation is somewhat in line with John’s suggestion: “Packaging a pair of Day 2 picks to move up from No. 3 to No. 1 likely would be enough to put Ward in a Giants jersey.”
Maybe John nailed this one. We’ll find out.
GO DEEPER
What I heard about the Giants at NFL combine: QB plan, free agent targets and trading up
Raymond C.
Please don’t trade up to No. 1. Take either Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter or Ward (prioritize in that order) at No. 3. Take the best prospect at O-line or D-line in the second round and the best lineman on the other side of the ball in the third.
On the flip side, Raymond, along with many other readers, doesn’t want the Giants to trade up to No. 1 for their pick of choice. I’m using Raymond’s plea here because there appears to be a strong sentiment for that thought when considering other roster needs. While John’s proposal includes signing Rodgers in free agency, Raymond’s submission is strictly focused on the draft. But hypothetically, let’s assume the Giants land a free agent QB they’re happy enough with that they don’t have to draft one in the first round. Then they really could focus on trying to make the 2025 team as good as it can be. Whether that’s the right approach is another question.
There are just so many factors to consider, but the biggest is Giants GM Joe Schoen’s comments from combine week about taking “big swings” at quarterback. They already missed on Matthew Stafford, but a trade up in the draft would certainly qualify as a big swing and would demonstrate this regime has prioritized securing its short and long-term future at the position. On the other hand, sticking at No. 3 and taking Carter or Hunter could signal the team’s patience in the building process rather than feeling forced to trade up for a QB. Again, it’s hard to know anything for certain right now.
Beyond the QB discussion, I’m a firm believer in Raymond’s desire to land the best offensive and defensive linemen available in the next two rounds. The Giants must prioritize beefing up the defensive trenches alongside star Dexter Lawrence while injecting young talent into the offensive line. We’ll get more into that shortly.
Dino D.
I traded back with the Steelers, getting Nos. 21, 52, plus their 2026 first and second rounders.
No. 21: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
No. 34: S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
No. 52: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
No. 65: WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
No. 104: QB Will Howard, Ohio State
No. 134: DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
Free Agents: CB Charvarius Ward and either QB Aaron Rodgers, Justin Fields or Jameis Winston.
Would the Steelers be desperate enough to make a huge move up the board for a QB? In this scenario, they were!
Dino presents a fun trade-back option to gather draft assets and plan for selecting a top QB next season, while still picking a later-round QB this year. I don’t hate the idea. I just don’t know if it’s something this regime can afford to do. Even if they pass on a QB in Round 1, it’s hard to give up a prize asset like the No. 3 pick, even with the promise of next year’s assets and the additional second-rounder this year. That’s such a forward-looking move and feels like something a team with a first-year GM could pull off rather than what Schoen, entering Year 4, could do as he feels the pressure from ownership to turn things around.
But let’s say it does happen. Simmons is an intriguing choice. He’s clearly one of the most talented offensive linemen in the draft, but his knee injury last season could impact his draft stock. This far back in the first round, I can see rolling the dice, but the knee injury gives me pause when thinking about the team’s offensive line injury woes the past few seasons.
I do like the Watts selection as Jason Pinnock is a free agent and must be replaced. Brugler recently noted that Watts has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He could be fun to watch alongside Tyler Nubin.
Again, I totally agree the Giants need more defensive tackle depth, and taking one in the second round makes sense with this considered to be a deep D-line class. However, I’m not sure Grant will still be around by that pick as Brugler has him as his No. 26 overall prospect in his latest top 100 big board. The same goes for Alexander, whom Brugler lists at No. 67. But you never know.
Getting another receiver to pair with Nabers is a fine idea with last year’s No. 2 target, Darius Slayton, about to hit free agency. Still, I might prefer taking a shot at QB before receiver, and I like Howard. He led Ohio State to a national championship, and Brugler believes the league isn’t going to let him fall beyond Day 2. He could be an intriguing developmental choice for the Giants.
Adam D.
Using the Fanspeak mock draft tool, in one simulation, the Bears offered this year’s first (No. 10), plus next year’s first and second-round picks for the Giants first-rounder this year. Then the Giants drafted:
No. 10: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
No. 34: G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
No. 65: S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Another trade-back scenario, but this keeps the Giants a little closer to the top end of the class, which could be more appealing for a regime in win-now mode. In this scenario, Adam has the Giants going with a top cornerback. There’s no arguing the position group needs more help after 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks’ less-than-ideal second season, but I’d prefer going after a veteran in free agency rather than spending another top pick on a corner. That’s nothing against Johnson, but I just think that CB room would benefit from having an experienced No. 1 rather than asking a rookie to play that role. Yes, I’m aware of that logic flaw with Travis Hunter, but if Hunter is as good as projected, he’s just too hard to pass on.
Beyond Johnson, Adam beefs up the trenches with the selection of Jackson in Round 2, and I like the choice, especially considering his position versatility.
“After a rough first start at left tackle against Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Jackson played at a high level the rest of the way in 2024 — including an impeccable playoff run,” Brugler recently wrote. “Long considered a guard prospect by NFL teams, his left tackle tape was better than what he showed at his previous position, forcing scouts to reevaluate his best fit at the next level.”
That has to be music to the Giants’ ears when thinking about LT Andrew Thomas’ injury history and their need at guard with Greg Van Roten a free agent.
Phillip T.
This is based on the assumption that the Giants get Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. It includes no trades:
No. 3: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
No. 34: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
No. 65: QB Tyler Shough, Louisville/Quinn Ewers, Texas/best QB available
No. 104: DL Joshua Farmer, Florida State
No. 134: RB Devin Neal, Kansas
With Ward and Carter off the board in Phillip’s simulation, he takes Hunter at No. 3. As I mentioned above, I think it’s hard to pass on Hunter, who is considered by evaluators and his NFL peers to potentially be a generational talent. An offensive lineman (Armand Membou or Will Campbell) or defensive lineman (Mason Graham) in this slot would also be totally acceptable, but I’ve fallen victim to the hype and would hate to miss out on Hunter.
Luckily, Phillip goes for an offensive tackle in the second round. Brugler said the Oregon product, “who had the best 10-yard split of any lineman at the combine, has high-level quickness and recovery balance.” He played LT for the Ducks, so the Giants would need him to be comfortable moving to right tackle, but getting a quality tackle is never a bad idea.
Assuming the Giants get Rodgers or Wilson, picking Shough — or the best available QB — with their third-round choice is intriguing. They can try and win now, while putting a young QB in the pipeline to develop behind the veteran.
To me, the most exciting pick in Phillip’s draft is Neal. As Phillip wrote, “I understand taking an RB here may be controversial with how good Tyrone Tracy Jr. is and the fact that we still have Devin Singletary under contract, but this RB class is stacked, and I believe Neal and Tracy have complimentary skill sets.”
I can’t fault that logic.
John M.
No. 3: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
No. 34: C Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
No. 65: DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
No. 104: Edge Jared Ivey, Ole Miss
I wanted to include John’s choice solely to get the Sanders selection at No. 3 covered. We addressed Ward a lot up top, but we didn’t the idea of sticking at No. 3 and taking Sanders, who still appears to be the No. 2 QB in this class. However, Sanders might not be considered a top prospect if not for the QB deficit: Brugler has him at No. 25 on his big board.
“Sanders is smart, tough and accurate, which makes a great foundation for an NFL quarterback,” Brugler said. “I have no doubts he can start at the next level. My concerns are more about his overall ceiling, because of his average physical traits and mismanagement of the pocket. The draft opinions on Sanders are wide-ranging throughout the league — and my evaluation of him seems to be somewhere in the middle.”
With all that comes with picking Sanders, it’ll be interesting to see which team pulls the trigger. Still, it’d be surprising if he’s not the second QB off the board. Will he go as high as No. 2 or No. 3 to a QB-desperate team? That’s one we’re watching.
Thanks for all of your submissions! I had lots of fun reading through them and deciding which to highlight. Unfortunately, can only write off so many, but please know that all your contributions were much appreciated. And we’ll keep thinking of ways to engage your opinions in the final month before the draft!
(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
