ESPN draft guru gets the Giants their quarterback
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has dropped his first NFL mock draft of 2025, meaning it must really be draft season. Kiper’s mock is good news for the quarterback-needy Giants as one of the two top quarterbacks in the class, Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, falls to New York at No. 3.
In picking Sanders for the Giants, Kiper says:
This is the best-case scenario for the Giants. Their Week 17 win over the Colts slid them to No. 3 overall, and now finding a new QB1 in the first round isn’t guaranteed. But Daniel Jones is gone, and Drew Lock is a free agent, so the Giants have to do something to clean up one of the worst passing games in the league. New York will be weighing all options, and it might ultimately be forced to trade up into the top two to get its guy. But here, Sanders falls into the Giants’ lap without any extra moves.
Sanders is super accurate, completing 74% of his throws this season. He could step in right away and lift the entire offense, including standout 2024 first-rounder Malik Nabers. Time is running out for GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll; they have to get this right.
In Kiper’s mock, Miami quarterback Cam Ward went No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter went No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns.
Valentine’s Views
Is Sanders the answer to the Giants’ prayers at quarterback? Even if they select him in April, only time will tell. No one, though, would be surprised if they don’t let Sanders slip through their fingers.
Kiper is right that one of Ward or Sanders falling into the Giants’ lap at No. 3 is probably a “best-case scenario.” They would not have to give up draft assets to move up, nor would they have to take a second-tier quarterback prospect later and hope they strike gold.
Giants scouts and executives made multiple visits to Colorado during the fall, so they have spent a lot of time watching Sanders practice and play in-person.
Ward is considered the higher ceiling prospect, but his propensity to turn the ball over makes him somewhat of a boom-or-bust pick. Sanders doesn’t possess Ward’s size or physical tools, but his accuracy and ability to protect the ball, might make him a safer pick.
