Giants get elite playmaker and a quarterback with first two picks
Another week, another New York Giants seven-round mock draft.
ESPN has released its 2025 Mock Draft Simulator. To perhaps change up the board from what we have worked with in recent weeks, I used the ESPN Simulator.
Let’s see what happens.
Round 1 (No. 3) — Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Cam Ward went No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans. Shedeur Sanders went No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns. I don’t believe the Browns will take Sanders in this spot, but that’s how this mock worked out.
I get to choose between Hunter and Abdul Carter. Considering that other than quarterback the Giants have added nothing of significance to their roster on offense this offseason, and that Hunter would help on both sides of the ball he has to be the choice.
Where would he end up playing the most? Not my problem. It is a good one for Brian Daboll to figure out, though.
Round 2 (No. 34) — Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
A week ago, I moved back into Round 1 to select Dart. There has been at least a bit of national media chatter about the idea that given where the Giants are with a head coach, and perhaps a GM, on the hot seat that John Mara would not sign off on trading away draft assets to go get a quarterback.
So, I pre-determined that in this mock draft I would sit and wait to see what happened. Dart was still the player that I really wanted in this spot, and I still advocate for trading up to get him. It’s what I did in the SB Nation writer’s mock draft a few days ago.
With Cleveland having selected Sanders, there are two likely danger spots for the Giants in trying to wait until 34 for Dart. The Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 and the Los Angeles Rams at No. 26.
I feel fortunate that Dart is still on the board. I make this pick with zero hesitation. Renowned NFL draft analyst Todd McShay has Dart in the same tier with the same grade as Sanders in his rankings. I get Dart a full 32 picks later than Sanders was selected, so I see that as incredible value.
Understanding that the odds of finding a franchise quarterback decrease after Round 1 of the draft, I think this is a swing worth taking. If Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, or whatever regime comes after them, don’t like what they see from Dart this doesn’t stop them from taking another swing at quarterback in 2026 or 2027. Dart is the 28th-ranked prospect on the ESPN Big Board.
Round 3 (No. 65) — Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
This is one of the potentially jarring things about switching simulators. Using the NFL Mock Draft Database and Pro Football Network simulators, Jackson is almost always off the board somewhere in Round 2.
When I saw him available here, I did not hesitate. Long-term, the Giants may need a tackle with Jermaine Eluemunor in the last year of his contract and Andrew Thomas perennially battling injuries. The immediate need, though, is at guard. I see Jackson as a plug-and-play starter and a guy who could have a 10-year career.
Here is a Jackson scouting report from NFL.com:
Broad-framed three-year starter with core power and leg drive to hold the line of scrimmage or change it. He can stick and sustain in-line or on the second level and is a plus finisher. Jackson has the athleticism for all tasks as an outside-zone blocker. He is also able to accelerate and lead the way on long pulls or counters. He leans against stunting/slanting fronts, and he can be tardy in opening his hips and activating his feet for recoveries. He’s long but punches with wider hands and struggles to consistently maintain his edges when mirroring. Overall, Jackson has the measurables, power and movement for any scheme as a starting guard.
For those of you who are not Dart fans, Tyler Shough of Louisville was the top-ranked player on the board when this pick came up.
Other players available: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami; Jordan Burch, edge, Oregon; Oluwafemi Oladejo, edge, UCLA; Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College; Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA; Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Round 3 (No. 99) — Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
You might criticize me for drafting for need with both of my third-round picks, particularly this one. Still, Robinson was the top-ranked player on the big board and it is undeniable that the Giants have a crying need for young talent on the defensive line to supplement Dexter Lawrence.
Here is a Robinson scouting report from NFL.com:
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.
Full disclosure: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is still on the board here. I remain happy with my choice of Dart. While I understand the ceiling of Milroe, he is such a boom-bust prospect that in my view Dart is a better bet.
Other players available: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M; Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech; Harold Fannin, TE, Bowling Green; Bradyn Swinson, edge, LSU; Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina
Round 4 (No. 105) — Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina
I agonized over this choice, going back-and-forth between Knight and edge defender Bradyn Swinson of LSU. It did not help that NFL.com had identical 6.36 “will eventually be a plus starter” grades on both players.
The Giants have a need for edge depth and I will see if I can address that with one of my remaining picks.
The Giants have collected a bunch of inside linebackers in free agency who are — in reality — special teams players and emergency defenders. Knight should be more than that.
Given that there are rumblings that not everyone in the Giants organization is in love with Bobby Okereke, maybe that provides a pathway for Knight to eventually be a starter and key defender.
Here is the NFL.com scouting report on Knight:
Passionate linebacker with great size, good instincts and a feel for how to play the position. Knight is a fluid athlete with average pursuit speed and short-area burst. He uses his eyes and instincts to diagnose quickly and he maneuvers around bodies like a running back. He’s adept at slipping blocks and rarely allows blockers to stick and sustain on the second level. He’s aware and productive in zone but could struggle to stay connected in man coverage. He’s not a twitchy mover but knows how to play the game and has a chance to play on all three downs. Knight’s field demeanor and football character should seal the deal as a future starter at inside ‘backer.
Round 5 (No. 154) — Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
The Giants had tremendous success a year ago drafting running back Tyrone Tracy in the fifth round. Can they find it with a fifth-round running back two years in a row?
They don’t need to replace Tracy. You have to think, though, that this will be Devin Singletary’s last season with the Giants. Singletary has no guaranteed money in 2026 and the Giants could save $5.25 million against the cap by moving on. They probably will.
Neal profiles as a player who could be a productive committee member. I certainly think he would be an upgrade over Eric Gray.
Here is the NFL.com scouting report on Neal:
Workload runner with NFL size and four years of steady production to help elevate the program. Neal runs with a nice blend of patience and decisiveness to choose the right lanes and maximize each carry. He lacks top-end burst and speed, which will shrink the field for him, but he’s a fall-forward runner with good contact balance and a nose for short-yardage conversions. He has good instincts and soft hands in space and can help as a leak-out or swing-pass option. His blue-collar approach isn’t exciting but it is effective and Neal has the ability to develop into a backup three-down back.
Round 7 (No. 219) — Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
Remember earlier I was talking about how offensive tackle might be a long-term need. Well, Pierce is a developmental option who could emerge as a starter at right tackle in 2026.
NFL.com says:
Four-year starting tackle with unrivaled measurables and disruptive power for his height. Pierce plays with adequate technique in the run game and imposes his massive frame on static ends to widen the C-gap. He will struggle, however, with shorter edge defenders and athletic penetrators. Pierce is a heavy-legged leaner with average punch timing but exceptional length that keeps rushers out of his frame. His size makes him hard to navigate and he does a nice job of pushing rushers past the pocket. Quick inside counters could eat him up on the next level, though. It won’t always go smoothly, but Pierce’s effective use of his traits gives him a chance to become an NFL right tackle.
Round 7 (No. 246) — Willie Lampkin, iOL, South Carolina
Honestly, I was stumped by who to take with this pick. In the end, I always default to “when it doubt, pick a lineman.” Teams need more of those — on both sides of the ball — than any other position, so that is never a bad idea.
Besides, the 5-foot-11 Lampkin is a draft crush of BBV draft analyst Chris Pflum. Gotta throw Chris a bone every so often, so here it is.
Wouldn’t it be fun to watch Lampkin block the 5-foot-10 Elijah Chatman in training camp?
