Increasingly, Cam Ward and Travis Hunter are expected to be selected 1-2
It is beginning to look like the New York Giants’ choice at No. 3 in the 2025 NFL Draft will be between Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter.
Following Friday’s Colorado Pro Day, the Tennessee Titans cancelled a private workout for Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. The Titans have been considered likely to select Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, and that would now appear all but certain.
Meanwhile, until recently the Cleveland Browns had been heavily linked to both Sanders and Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter. That appears to have shifted.
There is a “growing belief around the league” from “high-ranking executives and coaches” that the Browns will select Hunter. The team had dinner with Hunter and Sanders on Thursday night.
Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam, trying to recover from the DeShaun Watson disaster, indicated to media that the Browns won’t “force” a quarterback selection.
“It would be great if we could get the quarterback, but we’re not going to force it,” Haslam said, adding later, “I think the message is if the right person’s there, we’re going to take him. If not, we’ll figure (quarterback) out for a year or two until we get the right person.”
Jared Mueller of SB Nation’s Dawgs By Nature confirmed Howe’s reporting recently on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast.
“Currently from what we understand the Browns do not plan on selecting Shedeur Sanders number two,” Mueller said. “I think for you and I number two and number three are just too rich for Shedeur Sanders.”
Mueller also reinforced Howe’s reporting that it is Hunter, not Carter, that the Browns are eyeing at No. 2.
“Abdul Carter does make sense for the Browns. It is not who I expect them to select, but at this point in time we might be talking 60-40, 55-45,” Mueller said. “When they look at their very terrible offense they see the ability [by drafting Hunter] to be really creative with Hunter, [Jerry] Jeudy, [David Njoku], [Nick] Chubb for a year, [Cedric] Tillman.
“That’s all of a sudden an offense that can do some things whereas just adding another talented defender doesn’t change the direction and the trajectory of the team.”
There is plenty of debate in the draft community regarding whether or not the Giants, after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and with head coach Brian Daboll needing to win in 2025, can take a quarterback who will begin the season on the bench at No. 3.
Todd McShay of The Ringer, who has Carter as the No. 1 prospect on his Big Board, posted on X that it’s “not a difficult decision IMO.” If you read his newsletter or watch his show on YouTube, you know McShay has been consistent that the Giants should take the best player at No. 3 and trade back into Round 1 for a quarterback like Jaxson Dart.
What would you do faced with a Carter-Sanders choice, Giants fans? Vote in the poll and let us know.
