Is this PFN trade up scenario really viable?
There has recently been a groundswell of support for the idea that the New York Giants will engineer a trade up to No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft with the Tennessee Titans to select Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
That is exactly what happens in the latest 7-round mock draft from Pro Football Network, this one by Ian Cummings.
Cummings has the Giants getting Ward from Tennessee in exchange for picks 3, 65 and a 2026 second-round pick. He writes:
There’s no runaway franchise-caliber quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but if you’re going to bet on anyone, bet on Cam Ward with his hyper-elite creation capacity, untethered arm elasticity, and zealous competitive chip.
Valentine’s View: If you read Big Blue View regularly, you know I am in favor of this move before we find out what happens in free agency. I believe the Giants will have to give up pick No. 34 instead of pick No. 65, but keeping the 34th overall pick certainly is a bonus.
Let’s look at the rest of Cummings’ haul for the Giants.
Round 2 (No. 34) — Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Cummings writes:
Luther Burden III’s slide stops in an exciting place. With Ward and Malik Nabers in New York, Burden can function as the team’s elite RAC receiver underneath.
Valentine’s View: Burden is a talented player and the Giants certainly need a No. 2 wide receiver opposite Malik Nabers. I can’t, though, support taking a wide receiver here with several offensive linemen, defensive linemen and cornerbacks available who would be worthy of this pick.
The rest of the draft
Round 4 (No. 104) — Logan Brown, OT, Kansas
I have not studied Brown. I love the idea of snagging a developmental offensive tackle, though, and am intrigued by Brown’s scouting report.
Traits-based developmental tackle with only one full season as a college starter. Brown is high-cut but is unusually quick laterally and athletic in space for a player who plays so upright. He gets to zone-blocking landmarks and is forceful with move contact, but his pad level limits his consistency as a man-to-man blocker. His protection improved rapidly in-season, but he still needs to develop an inside-out approach with pass sets and learn to recognize rush games more quickly. The bad looks really bad but the good can look really good. The ceiling and floor are both moving upward and Brown has early swing tackle value with a chance to develop into an NFL starter.
Round 4 (No. 134) — Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
Another player I am not familiar with. Again, though, I love the idea and the scouting report.
Bully with a roughshod playing style that forces blockers to match his physicality. Robinson is built for the trenches with the versatility to play in odd or even fronts. He’s first into contact with his hands and mitigates average knee-bend with brute force in his upper half. He’s powerful to set edges but lacks length to control and quickly shed NFL blockers. He’s an effort rusher with active hands who can exploit a weak edge and thrive in gaming fronts but possesses average creativity. Robinson might not be a star, but his effort, strength and demeanor could make him a productive pro for years to come.
Round 5 (No. 155) — Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (FL)
Round 7 (No. 221) — Daniel Jackson, WR, Minnesota
Round 7 (No. 248) — Jacob Gideon, OL, Western Michigan
