New York Giants mock draft: Chris takes the road less traveled

The time has come for me to offer my final mock draft of the 2025 NFL Draft process for the New York Giants.

Before I started on my draft, I asked Ed whether I should draft as I would, or how I think Joe Schoen would.

He told me to treat it as “my” draft, so that’s how I went about it. While I was thinking about my strategy, I looked at the strengths and weaknesses of this draft class, a quip by Daniel Jeremiah crystalized the nature of this draft in my mind.

“This isn’t a ‘Stars’ draft, this is a ‘Starters’ draft.”

This year’s class is incredibly deep with starting talent, but not so much with future stars. So the fact that the Giants are sitting at No. 3 overall gives them leverage that other teams can’t match.

So I decided to go off the beaten path a bit. And in doing so I circled back to my preferred strategy from 2018.

That year I wanted to pass up on the shiny object (Saquon Barkley) and instead draft Quentin Nelson. At the same time, I also advocated for taking Lamar Jackson after manipulating the draft board. I believe that the Giants could have combined the strategies employed by the Colts and Ravens, and have been a better team for it.

I also believe that the big problem with the Giants’ defense isn’t personnel based. The no-name defensive line played far better than they got credit for after Dexter Lawrence went down, and the Giants already have a great pass rush.

(The Giants were eighth in sacks, fifth in sack rate, and the only team with three defenders in the top 30 of High Quality Sack rate.)

Their problem is one of volume. The Giants’ defense saw the third-fewest pass attempts against, while also seeing the sixth-most rushing yards against last year. Their offense was utterly unable to dictate the terms of games to opponents. Opponents were never forced to pass to keep up with the Giants’ offense, so the defense was constantly put in poor positions.

So my other directive is to add pieces to the offense which could allow them to dictate the game and put the defense in position to hunt quarterbacks.

I used the mock draft simulator at the NFL Mock Draft Database for this mock.

Full Mock Draft

I’m going to go through my reasoning for each move, but first the bottom line up front.

First round – TRADE!

This might sting, and it’ll probably draw some ire, but I’m auctioning off the “blue chip” player here.

I’m not sold that Carter is so significantly better than everyone else his position that you don’t listen to offers — he’s good, but I don’t think he’s as good as Micah Parsons or Myles Garrett. Frankly, this is an absurdly stacked edge defender class and if I can get 90 or 80 percent of Carter later on plus multiple other players, I’m taking that deal.

(Note: I decided on this course of action before the reports that the Giants are at least fielding calls regarding trades out of No. 3 overall.)

Panthers receive: No. 3 overall
Giants receive: No. 8 overall, 57th overall (Round 2), 74th overall (Round 3), Carolina’s 2026 third-round pick

Round 1 (No. 8) – Armand Membou (OT, Missouri)

[Prospect profile]

I’ve said this multiple times: The Giants’ offensive line wasn’t a problem in 2024, at least not until injuries set in. They were league-average in pass protection, even with Greg Van Roten being a liability at right guard. However, Van Roten WAS a liability and definitely isn’t a long-term answer.

So I’m drafting the guy who could be the best offensive tackle in the draft in Membou. He’s a career right tackle, is a fantastic pass protector and run blocker, and has rare traits at 6-foot-4, 332 pounds, with 33½-inch arms, and fantastic play strength and movement skills.

The list players with his combination of traits is: Trent Williams and Tristan Wirfs.

…That’s it. That’s the list.

Membou can bookend with Andrew Thomas while Jermaine Eluemunor and Evan Neal fight over right guard.

Also on the board: Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State), Jalon Walker (edge, Georgia), Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)

Another trade!

Giants receive: 30th overall
Bills receive: 34th overall, Giants’ 2026 4th round pick

I strongly considered standing pat and taking whoever fell to me at 34th overall.

However, I opted to make a small trade up for two reasons. First, the Eagles wouldn’t trade with the Giants, but there’s a bunch of other QB-needy teams they might trade with. I didn’t want to spend the rest of the pend the (hypothetical) night sweating the Browns taking a player I want, or sweating another team trading with them to jump me.

Second, and most importantly: This is for a quarterback and getting the 5th year option could be a game-changer for future-me if my pick pans out. Having that extra year of control is worth sacrificing the 34th pick.

Finally, this trade is dirt-cheap from my perspective since I already have Carolina’s 2026 third-rounder. I was actually prepared to deal a future third to pull this off but didn’t need to do so. Weirdly, I tried to do two third-round picks (one from 2025 and 2026), but the sim wouldn’t take it. Oh, well.

Round 1 (No. 30) – Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

[Deep Dive]

The board fell the way I anticipated and my choice was between Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough.

I really like Shough and I think he could be QB2 in this class if he had anything like a normal path to the NFL. But as I said in the introduction, one of the two themes of this class is that I’m turning the clock back to 2018. That year my preferred strategy was to move back and select Quentin Nelson, then us some of that draft capital to jump back into the first round for Lamar Jackson.

I’m not going to compare Milroe to Jackson. But I have previously compared Milroe to Josh Allen as prospects, and I still think that’s a fair comparison. They have similar issues as passers, as well as similar upside due to legitimately rare traits. I also believe that of the QBs not named “Cam Ward”, Milroe is the one who can realistically help them this year. Perhaps that’s in a package of read-option plays or maybe sharing the backfield in a super-charged version of the 2022 Pony Package. There are more ways to get Milroe’s feet wet in the NFL, and do so in low-pressure environments that could help speed up his development curve.

Milroe is an undeniable risk, but he’s a risk with which the Giants’ brass might feel pretty comfortable considering the players they’ve chosen in the past.

As a side note, it’s incredibly frustrating that I need to take that risk, because there are some damn good players still on the board. Unfortunately, “BPA” is a luxury reserved for the teams that already have long-term answers at quarterback. If you don’t have that, your ceiling is capped and your foundation might as well be sand.

Other players on the board: Matthew Golden (WR, Texas), Derrick Harmon (iDL Oregon), Malaki Starks (S, Georgia) Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)

Round 2 (No. 57) — Darius Alexander (iDL, Toledo)

[Prospect Profile]

Alexander is one of two players I was hoping would be here when I traded 34th overall to the Bills — the other being T.J. Sanders of South Carolina.

Even though I’m higher on the Giants’ defensive front than… Pretty much everyone else, that doesn’t mean they can’t build on a strength and make it even better. Alexander has good size at 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, with 34-inch arms very good burst and power. His agility is a bit lacking, but he has the versatility to play a variety of roles in a “multiple” defense as well as be a factor on all three downs.

Alexander isn’t my favorite defensive line prospect for the Giants (that’d be Tyleik Williams of Ohio State), but he’s a very good one and I’m thrilled with him here.

Also available: Mason Taylor (TE, LSU), Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame), Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA), TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State) Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)

Round 3 (No. 65) – Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)

[Prospect profile]

As mentioned above, one of my missions here is to improve the offense so the Giants can dictate the terms of the game.

Harris has the traits of a prototypical “X” receiver and would give the Giants a physical presence they don’t currently have in their receiving game. He would likely immediately slot in as a No.2 across from Malik Nabers and would give them another reliable option at all three levels of the field.

Harris led Ole Miss in receiving despite missing four and a half games to injury.

Also available: Jack Bech (WR, TCU), Elijah Aroyo (TE, Miami), Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)

Round 3 (No. 75) – Josiah Stewart (edge, Michigan)

[Prospect profile]

After turning Nick on to Stewart, I had to make sure I got “My Guy” here.

Stewart lacks ideal measurables and will likely slip because of that. However, he reminds me of Melvin Ingram and he might be the most efficient pass rusher in the draft.

Stewart racked up 9 sacks, 8 QB hits, and 20 hurries last year. He also led FBS in raw pass rush win rate (27.7 percent) and pass rush win rate on true pass sets (42.4 percent, per PFF). Stewart plays with great technique, making full use of his natural leverage and great play strength. He also has impressive burst and athleticism for an edge defender.

Also available: Tate Ratledge (OG, Georgia), Wyatt Milum (OT/OG, West Virginia), Jalen Royals (WR, Utah State)

Round 3 (No. 99) – Damien Martinez (RB, Miami)

[Prospect profile]

The Giants have shown quite a bit of interest in the running back position, at least judging by their “30” visits.

Martinez might be my favorite runner in the draft outside of the first round, and he’s another one I wanted to make sure I got. He turned in an impressive combine performance after dropping roughly 10 pounds from his playing weight at Miami. That might have pushed him up draft boards, so I wasn’t taking a chance.

He’s a violent inside runner with fantastic contact balance as well as vision, as well as surprising quickness and agility for his frame and playing style. Martinez would bring a punishing, physical element to the Giants’ running game that they currently lack with Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary.

Also available: Cam Skattebo (RB, Arizona State), Dylan Sampson (RB, Tennessee), Harold Fannin Jr. (TE/H-Back, Bowling Green)

Round 4 (No. 105) – Harold Fannin Jr. (TE/H-Back Bowling Green)

[Prospect profile]

Fannin was under consideration for the 99th pick, and honestly I wouldn’t have a problem with him being drafted anywhere on the second day. He isn’t an “elite” athlete, however he is incredibly versatile and a true playmaker with the ball in his hands.

Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka have shown themselves to be creative play designers over their three years. The Giants don’t need a tight end with Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson in the fold, but Fannin’s versatility to play every position other than offensive line could open the door for some fantastic wrinkles.

Also, this either allows the Giants to let Bellinger walk after the year, or gives them a deep and diverse tight end unit for years to come.

Also available: Cam Skattebo (RB, Arizona State), Joshua Farmer (iDL, Florida State), Cameron Williams (OT, Texas)

Round 5 (No. 154) – Quincy Riley (CB, Louisville)

[Scouting report]

I was stunned to see Riley still on the board and didn’t even think about any other player here.

Riley is competitive with the traits to play in man or zone coverage at a reasonable level. He might top out as a back-up or sub-package player in the NFL, but I also wouldn’t bet against him exceeding expectations. He was one of the few players at the 2025 Senior Bowl practices who was a consistent problem for the likes of Tez Johnson and Jack Bech.

At the very least, Riley will reinforce the Giants’ young secondary with a player who’s competent and competitive in coverage and is very willing to contribute in run support.

Also available: Devin Neal (RB, Kansas), Bhayshul Tuten (RB, Virginia Tech), Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas), Miles Frazier (iOL, Oregon)

Round 7 (No. 219) – Ajani Cornelius (OT, Oregon)

[Prospect profile]

I suggested Cornelius to Ed as a late-round developmental or depth option, so I took hime when available here as well.

Cornelius might be a guard at the NFL level, but having a player who might enter the pipeline and at least reinforce the depth is a solid swing at this point in the draft. The upside here is that he can stay at tackle and irons out some of his issues with coaching and is a solid swing tackle.

Also available: Isaac TeSlaa (WR, Arkansas), Sebastian Castro (DB, Iowa), Kyle Monangai (RB, Rutgers)

Round 7 (249th overall) – Jo’Quavius Marks (RB, USC)

[Scouting report]

Credit to Nick on this one. He has Woody Marks as a relatively early Day 3 pick, so I’ll trust his judgment.

There were a few different ways to go here, but I ultimately decided on the more versatile running back. Marks is a one-cut slasher with solid agility as well as upside in the passing game. He might be destined for the practice squad as a rookie due to the numbers game, but he could be a solid piece in Year 2 with some development.

As a side note, the nickname “Woody” is a reference to the character “Woody” from Toy Story, Marks’ favorite movie growing up.

Also available: Luke Lachey (TE, Iowa), Joshua Gray (iOL, Oregon State), Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech)