Giants 2025 Draft Review

The Giants came out of this year's draft weekend with new faces that will fill immediate needs on both sides of the ball. Here are all seven of their picks, per the one and only Bobby Skinner of Giants Nation pod.

There's a whole lot to like here, and Joe Schoen is shaping up to have another successful draft class on his hands. After the success and potential seen in year 1 from the 2024 class, the hope is to see a repeat of that with this year's class. They took the best player available at the time in Abdul Carter, locked down their quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart, and plugged a hole in the middle of the defensive line with Darius Alexander all within the top 70 picks. Things are looking up for the G-Men in 2025, and I'm here to give my thoughts on the guys they took and how this all came together as part of Joe Schoen's draft strategy.

The Giants drafted guys that are going to compete on day 1

Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll learned a few things from the 2022 and 2023 drafts, their first few together as a duo leading the charge in New York. Although a handful of guys from those drafts are key pieces on the current team like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Wan'Dale Robinson, Micah McFadden, Deonte Banks, and John Michael-Schmitz, the rest of the 13 drafted over those two years either haven't played to their positional potential, or have been fill-ins when the injury bug hits. However, things changed in 2024 when the Giants were unable to trade up to take a young quarterback. They pivoted and took budding All-Pro wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick. They then proceeded to take five more guys that played a role in one way or another for the 2024 team.

Fast forward to post-draft 2025, and the early assumption is that this class is full of high-quality players ready to compete. The Giants tried to trade up to get Cam Ward to no avail, but it seems like that trend has been a blessing in disguise for this team. Hey, it got them Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart, so I'm not complaining. Anyway, here are some quick highlights on what the seven players drafted can bring to the table:

• Abdul Carter - Carter is lightning quick off the edge, overpowers defenders, and racked up 23.5 TFLs and 12 sacks in 2024. Darth Vader in Giant blue. He was the top player in this draft, and there is no doubt in his ability to be a constant force on the edge and in the dirt for years to come. He reminds me of when the Giants drafted Mathias Kiwanuka in 2006 to add to an already dominant defensive line.

• Jaxson Dart - New York's QB1 of the future. He had a season to remember down south having thrown for 4,000+ yards, 29 touchdowns, and a 69.3% completion percentage. He will sit for a year behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston but will learn a lot about leading an offense, especially in the complicated system Brian Daboll runs. I love what he brings to the table and it feels like the Giants got their guy.

• Darius Alexander - This guy had eight TFLs last year, and a lot of experts thought he would be gone in the second round. Field Yates and Mel Kiper had him going at number 48 in their three round mock draft. He will make a difference in year 1, and defensive line coach Andre Patterson should have a lot of fun developing him.

• Cam Skattebo - What else can I say aside from the fact that this pick was an absolute steal. One of the best running backs in the country still available in the fourth round?? We got ourselves a workhorse that likes putting the pads on and going to work. In 2024 alone, he tallied 1,700+ rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. A menace that will complement Tyrone Tracy Jr. nicely.

• Marcus Mbow - In my opinion, I didn't think he would be there at pick 154, but here we are. He is a 6'4", 303 lbs. beast that played every game at right tackle for Purdue last year while earning an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. He will most likely shift back to guard and compete against veteran Greg Van Roten for the right guard spot this year.

• Thomas Fidone II - Once a top tight end prospect coming out of high school - even ranking higher than Brock Bowers - the Giants took him as a low-risk, high-reward type guy. He is 6'6", 250 lbs. and had 36 receptions for 373 yards in 2024. He'll have to compete for that second or third tight end spot in training camp and I wouldn't be surprised if he makes some noise. Oh and he also has a side hustle as a tattoo artist. So awesome.

• Korie Black - A long and athletic corner, the Giants decided to use their final pick to add some depth to that area. Although not guaranteed to make the roster, this is a guy who was a three-year starter at Oklahoma State. He played in 62 games and started in 38 throughout his career, culminating in a 2024 season with three interceptions. I'm interested to see how he comes along in camp this summer.

Final thoughts

Based on the above, the 2025 class is coming into the league with a lot of football hours under their collective belts. One way or another, they have all shown early leadership traits with their respective schools and the Giants did a really good job scouting their big board for the physical and mental traits that help build the foundation for a strong culture.

After 2022 and 2023 drafts, where it felt like the Giants reached for some picks or didn't take top guys on the board, Joe Schoen made obvious adjustments to his strategy and went with players that could make a difference from day 1. This is the new Giants culture. The 2025 draft class is the icing on the cake after a strong free agency period for this team. There is a lot to look forward to in the near future, and the expectation is that many of this year's picks will see the field this season.