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We are still a couple of weeks away from the real 2025 NFL Draft. Which means you have to suffer through at least a couple more of my weekly 7-round New York Giants mock drafts.
This week, I tried to stick as close as possible to the decisions I actually believe could be made with the first couple of selections. I also tried to stick to my belief that the Giants need to address the offensive and defensive lines with their later selections, but since this is still a “scenario” draft I also wanted to toss a few names names into the pot for consideration/discussion. And I might have thrown a curveball into the middle of this mock.
This is another mock done using the ESPN simulator.
Let’s go!!
Round 1 (No. 3) — Abdul Carter, edge, Penn State
The first two picks went chalk:
- Quarterback Cam Ward to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1.
- Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2.
As I said in both Saturday’s Big Blue View Mailbag and Sunday’s ‘things I think’ column, I have zero issue with adding one of the two best prospects in the draft class with this pick. Even if that means defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is going to have to be creative to get Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns on the field enough.
I am going to use scouting report blurbs from ‘The Beast’ by Dane Brugler of The Athletic this week. Of Carter, he says:
A three-year starter at Penn State, Carter lined up as a wide rusher in former defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s four-man line, standing up and rushing with his hand on the ground. After initially wanting to stay at of-ball linebacker, he made the transition to an edge role in 2024 and lived up to high expectations, ranking No. 1 in the FBS in tackles for loss (23.5), No. 2 in pressures (66) and No. 7 in sacks (12.5). His production matches his traits, and his impact was best captured in a 2024 Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, even though Carter played that game with an injured left shoulder.
With only one season under his belt as a true edge rusher, Carter needs continued polish in his attack. His arrow is pointing sky high, though, because of his get-of burst, body twitch and competitive intensity. Despite having average size for run-game responsibilities, he regains his balance quickly after taking a jolt from blockers and plays with tremendous range to slip blocks and close in a flash. Overall, Carter is a disruptive presence, because of his explosive nature and how he mixes up his rushes to win with speed, force and a budding arsenal of moves. He projects as a 1A pass rusher, with a gift for consistently making the quarterback move his feet and making plays in the run game.
- New York Giants draft: Making the case — Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders
- Abdul Carter stress reaction called a ‘non-factor’
- New York Giants mock draft tracker: Moving away from quarterback at No. 3
- Making the case: Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter?
- Does Shedeur Sanders really want to be drafted by the New York Giants?
- Giants NFL draft notebook: How would New York use Abdul Carter?
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Round 2 (No. 34) — Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
I watched the picks intently after Shedeur Sanders went No. 6 to the Las Vegas Raiders to see if I would need to trade up for a quarterback. The Pittsburgh Steelers took running back Omarion Hampton at No. 21, a spot where I thought a quarterback might go. The Rams then passed on quarterback at No. 26, selecting offensive tackle Josh Simmons.
At that point, I figured I would be able to sit tight and get either Milroe or Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss. In a real-world scenario, I would still expect that the Giants would need to trade up for one of these players — especially if they have a strong preference for which quarterback they like.
I did not expect the Cleveland Browns to take Quinn Ewers at No. 33, which they did in this simulation. Clearly, I think they would take one of Dart or Milroe.
My inclination throughout the process has been to take Dart before Milroe. In this instance, I will take the home run swing. Can’t do the same thing every week! Besides, if we are talking about real-world scenarios the odds are greater that Milroe would actually be available here. For what it’s worth, the ESPN Big Board has Dart as No. 28, and Milroe as No. 80.
- New York Giants draft visits: QB Jalen Milroe heading to East Rutherford
- New York Giants draft: Matt Waldman breaks down quarterback options
- Mel Kiper mock draft: Abdul Carter and an interesting QB to New York Giants
- NFL Draft rumors: New York Giants among teams Jaxson Dart has spent the ‘most time’ with
- 2025 Quarterback Deep Dive: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
- 2025 NFL Draft quarterback deep dive: Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Round 3 (No. 65) — Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Curveball!
Other than times when I have selected Travis Hunter at No. 3, I think this is the first time in this year’s series of mock drafts that I have selected a wide receiver this early.
The Giants have Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, yet getting another play-making wide receiver is a sneaky need for New York. Especially since Jalin Hyatt has disappointed in his first two seasons, and the Giants can’t count on that changing.
At 6-foot-4⅛, 214 pounds, Higgins offers size and an athletic profile the Giants don’t have at wide receiver.
Brugler says:
A two-year starter at Iowa State, Higgins was the X receiver (aligned wide on 72.4 percent of snaps in 2024) in first-year ofensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s scheme. A basketball-focused athlete much of his life, Higgins’ receiving production increased each of his four seasons in college — two in the FCS and the past two with the Cyclones (finished No. 7 on Iowa State’s all-time receiving list, despite his limited time in the program).
With the body control and grace of a former point guard, Higgins has the smooth athleticism that translates to his route running, and he is more than just a possession target — even if his tape doesn’t show a dangerous playmaker after the catch. He is a big, strong target who is natural at tracking and adjusting to the football, regardless of the placement or coverage (just three drops on 210 targets at Iowa State). Overall, Higgins is an ascending height-weight-speed athlete with the physicality and catch radius to be a productive NFL starter as he continues developing his route/release precision. His game is similar to what Nico Collins put on tape at Michigan.
Full disclosure: I loved Nico Collins coming out of Michigan. Perhaps it was Brugler’s comparison to Collins that sealed the deal for me.
Other players available: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami; Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA; Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College; Alfred Collins, DT, Texas; Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State; Joshua Farmer, DL, Florida State; Nic Scourton, edge, Texas A&M; Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame; Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
Round 3 (No. 99) — Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College
Sometimes, life — and mock draft simulators — are good to you. I get a potential right tackle of the future here, and a player I obviously would have been happy to select 34 picks prior.
Trapilo may offer some flexibility, though I look at him as a right tackle. He has 24 career starts at right tackle, 10 at left tackle and one each at left and right guard. Trapilo probably isn’t a guy the Giants would want to play right away, but that is what Jermaine Eluemunor and James Hudson are for.
Brugler says:
A three-year starter at Boston College, Trapilo locked down the right tackle spot in head coach Bill O’Brien’s offense, which used a mix of zone and gap schemes. Despite interest from college football powerhouses (both out of high school and in trying to entice him to the transfer portal), the Boston native stayed home and was the most consistent part of the Eagles’ ofense, earning All-ACC honors as a junior and senior (allowed only two sacks over his final two seasons).
Although he never had the chance to see his late father (Steve Trapilo) play in the NFL, Trapilo has the same offensive line talent in his DNA, with the natural movements and technical control. He stays patient and under control in his pass sets and understands hand placement to maintain space between himself and rushers. He needs to be more consistent blocking low to high in the run game, but he quickly establishes body positioning to manipulate spacing and cut of defenders. Overall, Trapilo is a towering athlete and can be jarred at contact on occasion, but he has swing-tackle traits with his smooth weight distribution and the impressive strike timing he uses to consistently complete the mission. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him compete for starting right tackle reps as a rookie.
Round 4 (No. 105) — J.J. Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
The Giants get a two-way player after all! Pegues’ primary position at Ole Miss was defensive tackle, but he began his time with the Rebels as a tight end and moonlighted as a fullback. The 6-foot-2¾, 309-pound Pegues carried the ball 21 times for 69 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns in 2024.
That’s a useful tool in his toolkit, but it’s as a defensive tackle that I am really interested. Look at the ‘other players available’ below, and I was focused on defensive tackle here. As I have said several times over the past couple of months, Giants GM Joe Schoen has never used a pick higher than Round 5 on an interior defensive lineman. I was determined to do so if possible, and the board I was presented with made that the case. Did I pick the right one?
Brugler says:
Pegues is a unique prospect, because he doesn’t play with as much power as one might expect for his size, but he’s a much better mover than most 310-pounders. He has an offensive background, which Lane Kiffin tapped into, especially in 2024, with an 85.7 percent conversion rate (18-for-21) in short yardage. Overall, Pegues is a compactly built athlete with the quickness and play strength to give blockers trouble from different alignments, although his ability to access counters and show better resolve will be his key to carving out a permanent defensive role. His versatility on offense should only boost his chances of locking down a roster spot.
Other players available: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas, A&M; Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky; Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland; Devin Neal, RB, Kansas; Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina; Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia
Round 5 (No. 154) — Jackson Slater, C/G, Sacramento State
Nothing sexy here. A player who could provide depth on the interior of the offensive line.
Brugler says:
With his stout frame, Jackson is quick in his setup as a pass blocker to center his blocks, vary his hand strikes and diagnose line games. His aiming points and angles in the run game have room for improvement, but he works hard to stay connected on the move and his range can be weaponized in an outside-zone scheme. Overall, Jackson needs to shore up his technique to better match up with NFL talent, but his movement ability, core strength and active eyes form a solid foundation for the next level. He projects as a guard/center NFL backup with a chance to be more in the right situation.
Other players available: Ty Hamilton, DT, Ohio State; Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech; Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon; Drew Kendall, C/G, Boston College
Round 7 (No. 219) — Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina
The Giants have paid a fair amount of attention to running backs throughout the draft process, as shown in our most recent visits tracker.
Sanders is not one of the top tier players at the running back position. He does, though, offer size at 6-foot, 217 pounds and running style the Giants don’t currently possess. He would compete with Eric Gray and Dante Miller, and could work his way into a complementary role with Tyrone Tracy.
Brugler says:
A one-year starter at South Carolina, Sanders became the lead back in former offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ zone-based run scheme (Loggains also coached him at Arkansas from 2021-22). A wide receiver when he joined the Razorbacks, Sanders moved to running back and had a breakout sophomore season to put himself on the NFL radar. After injuries sidetracked his 2023 season, he transferred and led the Gamecocks in rushing in 2024.
A plus-sized runner, Sanders allows things to develop at the line and can create for himself with tempo and lighter feet than one might expect. However, his elevated pad level and average explosiveness work against him, and he doesn’t have the speed to live up to his “Rocket” nickname. Overall, Sanders doesn’t consistently run as powerfully as his size might suggest, but he shows vision at the line of scrimmage to press, cut and stay on his feet through contact. His receiving skills will expand his usefulness for an NFL offense.
Round 7 (No. 246) — Branson Taylor, OT, Pittsburgh
As I often do late in these mock drafts, I defaulted to my “when in doubt, take a big man” philosophy. Taylor is that at 6-foot-6, 321 pounds. He is a developmental player with potential tackle/guard flexibility — the kind of guy a team might want as its last offensive lineman or on its practice squad.
Brugler says:
More of a basketball player than football player when he started high school, Taylor has pass-slide quickness to answer edge rushers and punch-ready hands, although his lack of length and oversetting tendencies are concerns. He flashes power in the run game but must improve his tempo and pace to stay balanced through the finish. Overall, Taylor has workable tools but needs to iron out the inefficiencies in his game, which would allow him to play with more focus as a finisher. Several teams believe his best pro position will be inside at guard.
How well did I do this week, Giants fans?
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