Oh, and they get Abdul Carter
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay of The Ringer has the New York Giants taking a big swing for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in his newly-released mock draft.
If you receive McShay’s newsletter, you can read the entire mock draft there. You can also watch McShay make and explain the picks on his YouTube channel.
McShay went what is increasingly becoming chalk for the Giants at No. 3, selecting Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter. The Tennessee Titans took Cam Ward No. 1 and the Cleveland Browns selected Travis Hunter No. 2, leaving the Giants to make a pick that seems more realistic with each passing day.
On YouTube, you can hear McShay’s explanation at the 9:37 mark (thanks, Chris!). In his newsletter, he wrote:
The reason the Giants can’t reach for a quarterback here—like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart—is because Carter is available. It’s that simple. You can’t pass up on a “tier 1” or “blue chip” talent for a quarterback who doesn’t carry that type of grade.
I view this as a huge win for the Giants, though. They get arguably the best player in the class—whose positional value is considered by most as second only to quarterback—at pick no. 3. Carter’s versatility will allow defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to drive opposing quarterbacks wild. Just imagine a third-and-long with Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux stalking around before the snap, getting ready to hunt.
Valentine’s View: I can’t argue. In my view, the whole “where would Carter play with Thibodeaux and Burns on the roster” is overblown. Steve Spagnuolo figured it out with Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka. A handful of snaps at off-ball linebacker for Carter would be one possibility.
Carter is the best player on the board here. A transformational player who turns the Giants’ pass rush into one to be feared. If his medicals check out, picking him is a no-brainer.
Now, for Milroe.
How does McShay get Milroe to the Giants? He trades picks 34 and 65 to the Minnesota Vikings to move to 24 and select the player who could be the highest ceiling/lowest floor quarterback in this draft class.
For context. it is important to note that McShay’s mock features the somewhat stunning development of Jaxson Dart coming off the board before Shedeur Sanders. McShay has Dart going No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints and Sanders going No. 15 to the Browns, who send picks 33, 67 and a 2026 second-rounder to the Atlanta Falcons.
On YouTube, listen to McShay explain the Milroe trade at 1:02:54. In his newsletter, McShay wrote:
I don’t have a Round 1 grade on Jalen Milroe, and none of the evaluators I’ve spoken with in the NFL do, either. But it takes only one. And mock drafts aren’t about my rankings; they’re about the intel. The NFL has made it abundantly clear that it does not want another Aaron Rodgers, Brady Quinn, or even Will Levis green-room situation on its hands. Thirteen players accepted invites to last year’s draft—all 13 were selected in the top 27. This year, the messaging has been that only eight to 10 players will be present in Green Bay for the draft. So I have no choice but to interpret Milroe’s invitation to draft night as a sign that he’ll be taken in the first round.
… with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in the building, there is no pressure for Milroe to play right away. Milroe’s physical traits can’t be taught, but he can be coached up similarly to how Josh Allen was when he entered the NFL. Give Brian Daboll an elite athlete and see what he can do with him over time.
McShay indicated that both the Giants and Browns (with pick No. 33 at the top of Round 2), who we will get in a minute, have an “intention” of trading back into Round 1 “if the right opportunity presents itself and the cost is not prohibitive.”
McShay’s YouTube co-host, Steve Meunch, reacted this way:
“If you are Joe Schoen and you walk out of the first night of that draft and you have Abdul Carter and Jalen Milroe you know how the fan base is going to react to that. I might be walking around like [MMA fighter] Conor McGregor. That’s how excited I think people would be.”
Valentine’s View: Fascinating to me that McShay, who said he did not do this with inside information, has Dart ahead of Sanders. If you are wondering about the cost of getting to different points in the draft, the Browns needing to give up a 2026 second-round pick while the Giants did not have to surrender 2026 draft capital to swing a deal nine picks later is informative.
I also have to believe McShay’s take that Milroe surprisingly getting and accepting an invitation to Round 1 of the draft from the league indicates advance knowledge that there is a strong possibility Milroe is selected on the first night of the draft.
The pairing of Daboll and Milroe is an interesting one. There is much about Milroe that reminds of Josh Allen, the quarterback Daboll had so much success helping to develop with the Buffalo Bills.
GM Joe Schoen said recently that if the Giants are going to take a swing at quarterback early in the draft, they want it to be with a player who has the capability of winning NFC East titles and Super Bowls.
I have used this quote before, but it applicable again. Matt Waldman of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio recently told the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast that he believes Milroe is the only quarterback in this class who could reach that level.
“I think if you’re going to look for that upside [of] who might be able to win Super Bowls for you there Jalen Milroe might be that guy,” Waldman said.
In his draft guide, Waldman wrote:
“If I were a pivotal decision-maker for an NFL team, Jalen Milroe is the only quarterback I’m considering within the first three rounds of the draft in this class. I’ll take shots on passers available later who have growth potential as journeymen starters or reserves. Maybe one of them surprises us and proves there’s a lot more to his game.
“Otherwise, Milroe is it. Period. End of story.”
Milroe would undeniably be a swing for the fences. There is nothing safe about making a move to grab the quarterback with the longest, most uncertain development curve of the top five quarterbacks in this class.
On YouTube, McShay said “I just think Daboll’s been looking for something like this.”
My biggest fear comes from the fact that Daboll is on the hot seat entering the 2025 season. Milroe would benefit from multiple years of consistent coaching. He isn’t going to get that with the Giants if 2025 goes badly and Daboll gets fired.
Anyway, it’s a fascinating swing I am coming to think more and more that the Giants might take.
Your thoughts, Giants fans?
