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[New York Giants]

Giants news, 4/9: Kiper drafts Carter, Milroe for Giants, Travis Hunter, Russell Wilson, more headlines

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New York Giants headlines for Wednesday

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• How successful are quarterbacks drafted on Day 2?
• Mel Kiper mock draft: Abdul Carter and an interesting QB to New York Giants
• New York Giants draft: Matt Waldman breaks down quarterback options
• Draft question of the day: Is this really a bold prediction?
• 2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
• NFL pro days schedule, results tracker 2025: What to know about pre-draft workouts
• New York Giants 2025 free agency | New York Giants 2025 Draft

Other Giant observations​

Jalen Milroe film review: Why a potential NFL Draft gem needs extensive polishing | The Athletic​

The ball explodes out of Milroe’s hand, bringing the strongest arm in this class. At his best, he is a deep-game hunter who can effortlessly get the ball downfield. He’s an exceptional runner who has the strength to rip away from arm tackles and the explosiveness to take runs to the house. He’ll sail passes occasionally but when he gets his feet properly aligned, he can fire into tight windows.

Teams will be intrigued with developing his considerable tools but what concerns me most about Milroe is his general lack of feel for the passing game. He had 28 starts in college so he’s experienced but even late into his last season, he didn’t display a sense of timing, pressure and anticipation.

Giants, Milroe marriage is perfect fit: Orlovsky​

"If I could hand pick one team for Jalen Milroe, it would be the New York Giants. ... This would be the perfect place for both the player and the organization."

—@danorlovsky7 on Alabama QB Jalen Milroe pic.twitter.com/7eCQAt55jF

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 8, 2025​

Abdul Carter falling into Giants’ lap at No. 3 pick could create dominant pass rush | New York Daily News​

Carter’s character is also a part of the evaluation process that the Giants need to clear. He was accused of assaulting a tow truck driver one year ago during an alleged incident in which the driver suffered a fractured rib. And Carter has been characterized as more individualistic than team-oriented in his on-field football approach by some scouts, needing more discipline to stay in structure rather than always pursuing a big play, for example.

Then again, he played through a bad shoulder during the College Football Playoff rather than protecting his body against further damage for the draft at the expense of his team. And the determination to make game-changing splash plays would be welcome, frankly, in New York.

Why Penn State’s Abdul Carter falling to No. 3 would be best-case scenario for Giants | NJ.com​

Yes, we all know the Giants need a long-term answer at quarterback. But Schoen doesn’t exactly seem eager to take one from this class — which some experts have deemed the worst in recent memory. “We can go any which direction. It doesn’t force you into a corner or force you to have to take something based on need,” Schoen said at last week’s owners’ meetings, when asked how signings of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston impact his draft plans.

Bottom line: If Schoen is telling the truth, he’ll take the best player available. Carter is that and then some. He would be a potentially generational consolation prize for missing out on Ward.

Shaun O’Hara takes a look at a key free agent​

Breaking down Paulson Adebo's game tape ️ pic.twitter.com/b1lGHGkGTR

— New York Giants (@Giants) April 8, 2025​

A Giants plan for Travis Hunter’s two-way game is far from decided | New York Post​

As the college season ended and the Giants ramped up their player evaluation process, they initially viewed Travis Hunter as a cornerback first and foremost, with the unique ability to also contribute now and then as a gifted wide receiver.

2025 NFL Mock Draft Top 10 4.0: Who will Jets and Giants pick? | SNY.tv​

No. 3: Giants - CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado There are still some around the NFL who believe the Giants are going to draft Sanders here. It would make sense. But the way Schoen spoke at the NFL’s annual meeting has me questioning all of that, though. He made it clear: The Giants will not draft a quarterback if they don’t believe in that quarterback. It seemed like he was explaining in advance why the Giants aren’t going to pick Sanders, at least at No. 3. Hunter is right up there with Carter as the top two players in this class. The Giants will likely start him at corner and then give him a handful of plays each week at receiver.

2025 NFL Draft: Best Day 2 fits for all 32 NFL teams | PFF​

Prospect to target: DI Darius Alexander, Toledo Although the Giants‘ interior houses one of the best defensive linemen in the game, Dexter Lawrence, there isn’t a lot outside of that, evidenced by the team’s 46.1 PFF run-defense grade on the interior after Lawrence went down in Week 13 in 2024. At 25 years old, Alexander possesses the strength to excel against the run, charting a 90.3 PFF grade in that facet last season.

Russell Wilson working out with two Giants TEs​

QB1 Russell Wilson getting in work with Giants TE’s Daniel Bellinger & Greg Dulcich plus Falcons WR Jesse Matthews pic.twitter.com/DW8JzaJ8zP

— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) April 8, 2025​

Victor Cruz compares his time with Giants, Bears | USAToday.com​

"And I'm like, well, I'm going to the Bears, a heralded organization, been around for a hundred years. Like, they absolutely run a high-level organization there. And I got there and I was looking around, I was like, this [expletive] is trash. Food was trash, ownership was trash, coaching staff was trash… It was just awful. In comparison to the Giants, where it was like gourmet, we got packaged lunch."

Around the league​

Joe Milton looking forward to learning from Dak Prescott, backup QB feels 'great energy' from Cowboys starter | CBSSports.com

Bears QB Caleb Williams driven to build bond with new coach Ben Johnson: 'Him pushing me is key' | NFL.com

Sean McVay: I haven't done a lot of work on QBs in this year's draft | Pro Football Talk

Justin Simmons: I want to go to the best situation, a team that will win | Pro Football Talk

Kyle Shanahan: Christian McCaffrey is 'healthy' but 49ers still looking to add RB in 2025 draft | NFL.com

Aaron Glenn: Jets' first goal is 'building a culture,' not playoffs or Super Bowls | NFL.com

Colts’ Braden Smith details struggle, recovery from severe OCD | ESPN.com

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison will work out for scouts before the draft | Pro Football Talk

Travis Hunter wants Roger Goodell to announce him as "wide receiver and DB" at the draft | Pro Football Talk

BBV mailbag​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV YouTube​

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...giants-travis-hunter-russell-wilson-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

Your daily Giants trivia game, Wednesday edition

Think you can figure out which Giants player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Big Blue View in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in the Google Form.

Today’s Big Blue View in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Monday, April 7, 2025
Sunday, April 6, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Big Blue View in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Giants player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/9/24404476/sb-nation-giants-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[New York Giants]

How successful are quarterbacks drafted on Day 3?

Brock Purdy | Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Not very

Finding the right quarterback to lead your franchise isn’t easy.

In a recent post, we detailed how only 38.8% of quarterbacks drafted in Round 1 have reached ‘solid starter,’ ‘franchise’ or ‘Hall of Fame’ caliber. On Day 2 of the draft (Rounds 2 and 3) we detailed how only five of 32 quarterbacks drafted during that time period (15.6%) reached at least ‘solid starter’ status.

So, how about Day 3?

The story of Tom Brady being a sixth-round pick is legendary. Brock Purdy having been selected as Mr. Irrelevant is the latest late-round quarterback success story.

Still, how realistic is it to draft a quarterback on Day 3 and end up with a player who fills, at least, the ‘solid starter’ description?

Below, the breakdown of quarterbacks selected on Day 3 since 2010.

Day 3 QBs (since 2010)

2010

Round 4
No. 122 — Mike Kafka (Philadelphia Eagles)

Round 5
No. 155 — John Skelton (Arizona Cardinals)
No. 168 — Jonathan Crompton (San Diego Chargers)

Round 6
No. 176 — Rusty Smith (Tennessee Titans)
No. 181 — Dan LeFevour (Chicago Bears)
No. 204 — Tony Pike (Carolina Panthers)

Round 7
No. 209 — Levi Brown (Buffalo Bills)
No. 239 — Sean Canfield (New Orleans Saints)
No. 250 — Zac Robinson (New England Patriots)

Drafted: 9
Solid starters or above: 0

2011

Round 4
None

Round 5
No. 135 — Ricky Stanzi (Kansas City Chiefs)
No. 152 — T.J. Yates (Houston Texans)
No. 160 — Nathan Enderle (Chicago Bears)

Round 6
No. 180 — Tyrod Taylor (Baltimore Ravens)

Round 7
No. 208 — Greg McElroy (New York Jets)

Drafted: 5
Solid starters or above: 0
Low-end career: 1 (Taylor)

2012

Round 4
No. 102 — Kirk Cousins (Washington)

Round 5
None

Round 6
No. 185 — Ryan Lindley (Arizona Cardinals)

Round 7
No. 243 — B.J. Coleman (Green Bay Packers)
No. 253 — Chandler Harnish (Indianapolis Colts)

Drafted: 4

Solid starters or above: 1 (Cousins)

2013

Round 4
No. 98 — Matt Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)
No. 110 — Ryan Nassib (New York Giants)
No. 112 — Tyler Wilson (Oakland Raiders)
No. 115 — Landry Jones (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Round 5
None

Round 6
None

Round 7
No. 221 — Brad Sorenson (San Diego Chargers)
No. 234 — Zac Desert (Denver Broncos)
No. 237 — B.J. Daniels (San Francisco 49ers)
No. 249 — Sean Renfree (Atlanta Falcons)

Drafted: 8
Solid starters or above: 0

2014

Round 4
No. 120 — Logan Thomas (Arizona Cardinals)
No. 135 — Tom Savage (Houston Texans)

Round 5
No. 163 — Aaron Murray (Kansas City Chiefs)
No. 164 — A.J. McCarron (Cincinnati Bengals)

Round 6
No. 178 — Zach Mettenberger (Tennessee Titans)
No. 183 — David Falls (Chicago Bears)
No. 194 — Keith Wenning (Baltimore Ravens)
No. 213 — Tajh Boyd (New York Jets)
No. 214 — Garrett Gilbert (St. Louis Rams)

Round 7
None

Drafted: 9
Solid starters or above: 0

2015

Round 4
No. 103 — Bryce Petty (New York Jets)

Round 5
Brett Huntley (Green Bay Packers)

Round 7
No. 250 — Trevor Siemian (Denver Broncos)

Drafted: 3
Solid starters or above: 0

2016

Round 4
No. 100 — Connor Cook (Oakland Raiders)
No. 135 — Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)
No. 139 — Cradle Jones (Buffalo Bills)

Round 5
No. 162 — Kevin Hogan (Kansas City Chiefs)

Round 6
No. 187 — Nate Sudfeld (Washington)
No. 191 — Jake Rudock (Detroit Lions)
No. 201 — Brandon Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
No. 207 — Jeff Driskel (San Francisco 49ers)

Round 7
No. 223 — Brandon Doughty (Miami Dolphins)

Drafted: 9
Solid starters or above: 1

2017

Round 4
No. 135 — Joshua Dobbs (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Round 5
No. 171 — Nathan Peterman (Buffalo Bills)

Round 6
No. 215 — Brad Kaaya (Detroit Lions)

Round 7
No. 253 — Chad Kelly (Denver Broncos)

Drafted: 4
Solid starters or above: 0
Low-end careers: 1 (Dobbs)

2018

Round 4
No. 108 — Kyle Lauletta (New York Giants)

Round 5
No. 171 — Mike White (Dallas Cowboy)

Round 6
No. 199 — Luke Falk (Tennessee Titans)
No. 203 — Tanner Lee (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Round 7
No. 219 — Danny Etling (New England Patriots)
No. 220 — Alex McGough (Seattle Seahawks)
No. 249 — Logan Woodside (Cincinnati Bengals)

Drafted: 7
Solid starters or above: 0

2019

Round 4
No. 104 — Ryan Finley (Cincinnati Bengals)
No. 133 — Jarrett Stidham (New England Patriots)

Round 5
No. 166 — Easton Stick (Los Angeles Chargers)
No. 167 — Clayton Thorson (Philadelphia Eagles)

Round 6
No. 178 — Gardner Minshew II (Jacksonville Jaguars)
No. 197 — Trace McSorley (Baltimore Ravens)

Round 7
None

Drafted: 6
Solid starters or above: 0
Low-end career: 1 (Minshew)

2020

Round 4
No. 122 — Jacob Eason (Indianapolis Colts)
No. 125 — James Morgan (New York Jets)

Round 5
No. 167 — Jake Fromm (Buffalo Bills)

Round 6
No. 189 — Jake Luton (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Round 7
No. 224 — Cole McDonald (Tennessee Titans)
No. 231 — Ben DiNucci (Dallas Cowboys)
No. 240 — Tommy Stevens (New Orleans Saints)
No. 244 — Nate Stanley (Minnesota Vikings)

Drafted: 8
Solid starters or above: 0

2021

Round 4
No. 133 — Ian Book (New Orleans Saints)

Round 5
None

Round 6
No. 218 — Sam Ehlinger (Indianapolis Colts)

Drafted: 2
Solid starters or above: 0

2022

Round 4
No. 137 — Bailey Zappe (New England Patriots)

Round 5
No. 144 — Sam Howell (Washington Commanders)

Round 7
No. 241 — Chris Oladokun (Pittsburgh Steelers)
No. 247 — Skyler Thompson (Miami Dolphins)
No. 262 — Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)

Drafted: 5
Solid starters or above: 1 (Purdy)
Low-end careers: 1 (Howell)

2023

Round 4
No. 127 — Jake Haener (New Orleans Saints)
No. 128 — Stetson Bennett (Los Angeles Rams)
No. 135 — Aidan O’Connell (Las Vegas Raiders)

Round 5
No. 139 — Clayton Tune (Arizona Cardinals)
No. 140 — Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns)
No. 149 — Sean Clifford (Green Bay Packers)
No. 164 — Jaren Hall (Minnesota Vikings)

Round 6
No. 188 — Tanner McKee (Philadelphia Eagles)

Round 7
No. 239 — Max Duggan (Los Angeles Chargers)

Drafted: 9
Solid starters or above: 0
Low-end careers: 1 (O’Connell)

2024

Round 4
None

Round 5
No. 150 — Spencer Rattler (New Orleans Saints)
No. 171 — Jordan Travis (New York Jets)

Round 6
No. 193 — Joe Milton (New England Patriots)
No. 218 — Devin Leary (Baltimore Ravens)

Round 7
No. 245 — Michael Pratt (Green Bay Packers)

Drafted: 5
Solid starters or above: 0

Totals​

Drafted: 93
Solid starters or above: 3 (Cousins, Prescott, Purdy)
Low-end careers: (Taylor, Minshew, O’Connell, Howell)

We have been trying to judge purely where teams can get a quarterback who can be at least a solid starter for several seasons. The odds on Day 3 are certainly not good. I have just three (Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy) of the 93 quarterbacks selected on Day 3 since 2010 having earned at least “solid starter” status. That is 3.2%. Yup, 3.2%.

There is an easy takeaway from all three of our posts.

The odds of finding your franchise quarterback aren’t fantastic, even if you draft a quarterback in Round 1. They drop precipitously each day in the draft, with the chance you will find someone who can be at least a solid long-term starter on Day 3 being remote.

Take that flier if you must. Odds are, though, if you are taking a quarterback on the third day of the draft you are probably wasting a roster spot.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/9/24404528/how-successful-are-quarterbacks-drafted-on-day-3

 

[New York Giants]

2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

Is Gabriel the next Russell Wilson?

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel is one of the most intriguing passers in the 2025 NFL Draft.

He’s also one of the least talked about quarterbacks at the national level, and the fact that he’s rarely brought up for quarterback needy teams like the New York Giants makes little sense on paper.

Gabriel quick, agile, has a strong arms, and has been efficient and productive quarterbacks in this draft class. From a stats perspective, he compares extremely well to the top quarterbacks in this year’s “Deep Dive” series:

Completion percentage: 72.9 percent (2nd - Shedeur Sanders 1st: 74.0 percent)
Yards per game: 375.5 (1st - Cam Ward 2nd: 331.8ypg )
Sack rate: 4.5 percent (2nd - Tyler Shough 1st: 3.0 percent)
Pressure to sack rate: 13.9 percent (2nd - Tyler Shough 1st: 9.3 percent)
EPA: 89.7 (2nd - Cam Ward 1st: 103.2)
QBR: 86.5 (2nd - Cam Ward 1st: 88)

Not only that, his predictive stats would have compared well to the 2024 quarterback class as well:

Completion percentage: 2nd (Bo Nix 1st: 78.6 percent)
Yards per game: 1st (Bo Nix 2nd: 325.5)
Sack rate: 3rd (Bo Nix: 1.23 percent, Michael Penix: 1.8 percent)
Pressure to sack rate: 3rd (Bo Nix and Michael Penix T-1s: 7.6 percent)
EPA: 3rd (Jayden Daniels 1st: 132.3, Bo Nix 2nd: 96.2)
QBR: 4th (Jayden Daniels 1st: 95.6, Bo Nix 2nd: 91.1, J.J. McCarthy 3rd: 90.8)

All the “sticky” stats that tend to be stable between college and the NFL suggest that Gabriel could be one of the best quarterbacks to come out in recent years.

But... Of course there’s a “but”.

But, Gabriel is also a pretty extreme outlier from a measurable perspective, which can be a difficult at best sell from a scout to a GM, or a GM to an owner. And as with other outliers in the past, that very well could force Gabriel down the draft board.

The Giants need a quarterback of the future, but could they take a risk on a player like Gabriel?

Prospect: Dillon Gabriel (8)
Games Watched: vs. Michigan State (2024), vs. Ohio State (2024), vs. Purdue (2024), vs. Illinois (2024)
Red Flags: Broken clavicle (2021)

Measurables​

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths​

Best traits

• Experience
• Accuracy
• Athleticism
• Arm strength
• Football IQ

Dillon Gabriel is an undersized but smart, experienced, athletic, efficient, and productive quarterback prospect.

Gabriel is a quick, twitchy athlete for the quarterback position with very good agility and short-area quickness. He has the ability to execute bootleg rollouts, flow within the pocket, scramble to extend plays, and contribute to the running game as a ball carrier himself. He doesn’t have great long speed, however he hits his top speed quickly and has the ability to make would-be tacklers miss in close quarters.

His athleticism is usually in service of his passing, and Gabriel has impressive arm talent. He has a very quick and compact throwing motion with and the ability to alter his arm angle and throw from a variety of slots to throw around defenders. He generates impressive torque through his upper body and is able to access deeper areas of the field as well as throw with good accuracy on the move.

While Gabriel is undersized, he’s clearly a quick-twitch athlete and has good explosiveness. That allows him to generate good velocity and generate zip in the short and intermediate area of the field, as well as drive the ball deep. He’s an accurate passer with solid precision to set up yards after the catch or layer the ball between defenders down the field.

Finally, Gabriel has high football IQ and experience in a variety of systems thanks to his travels at the collegiate level. He started his collegiate career at UCF, transferred to Oklahoma in 2022, and then to Oregon in 2024. He does a good job of identifying pressure as well as understanding where his options are downfield. Likewise, he understands when to fold and move on to the next play, as well as when to extend and give his receivers time to work open.

Gabriel has a good feel for pocket management and has one of the lowest sack rates (4.5 percent) and pressure-to-sack rates (13.9 percent) in the draft class. He’s also been consistently efficient with an excellent interception rate as well as consistently high EPA.

Weaknesses​

Worst traits

• Size
• Age
• Handedness (left handed)

The biggest concerns regarding Gabriel are the things he can’t do anything about.

First and foremost, he’s undersized for an NFL quarterback at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, with 29 ⅝ inch arms. Likewise, his 9 ¼ inch hands could be a problem for some teams as well. He’ll likely come in well below most teams’ measurable thresholds, and could be off some teams’ boards entirely because of it.

The success of Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield, as well as Kyler Murray, could be a mitigating factor in the minds of decision makers, but Gabriel’s height does impact his game. He needs to play further back in the pocket than a taller quarterback to maximize his sight lines. Likewise, he is better at attacking the perimeter than the middle of the field.

He also typically uses ¾ release which doesn’t allow him to play taller than he is (something Wilson does), and can expose him to batted balls at the line of scrimmage. Likewise, corralling high snaps can also be a problem for Gabriel.

Gabriel is also left handed, which could cause some teams hesitation. The importance of a “blindside” tackle is largely a thing of the past due to the prevalence of pass rushing duos and exotic blitzes. However, teams might be concerned that a left-handed quarterback could force them to make significant changes to play and blocking scheme design.

Finally, Gabriel is relatively old for a prospect at 24 (turning 25 on 12/28/25). The success of Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix could help with that concern, but teams will likely wonder how much upside and further development he has ahead of him.

Game Tape​

Projection​

Dillon Gabriel projects as a reserve backup quarterback who has starting upside in the right situation.

Gabriel likely won’t be for every team, however he has the potential to be a legitimate draft steal if he lands in the right situation. His predictive stats compare well not only with the players at the very top of this quarterback class, but last year’s as well.

The comparisons to Russell Wilson are unavoidable, and not unwarranted. It wouldn’t be fair to Gabriel to project that he will be as good as Wilson has been over the course of his career, but there are more than a few similarities between them.

None of the concerns in his game should be disqualifying in and of themselves, however they could give more risk-averse teams significant pause when taken as a whole. After all, an older, short, left-handed quarterback could be a tough sell to ownership. And while a GM could spread the blame around if a “prototypical” player misses, missing on an extreme outlier is a career killer.

But some team will judge that Gabriel’s upside is worth the potential risk.

The big question is which team will select him, and whether they’ll have an environment in which he can succeed. If Gabriel lands in the right situation, he could make a lot of men look very foolish for passing on him.

Does he fit the Giants?
On paper, yes.

Final Word: A first round talent who will likely slip to Day 2.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...file-dillon-gabriel-qb-oregon-scouting-report

 

[New York Giants]

Should the Giants draft Abdul Carter?

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

An elite player in a year the draft is deep at his position

New York Giants fans have inhabited a world of diminished expectations the last couple of years. Battered by the collapse of the 2022 playoff team as soon as the 2023 season began. Eying a top three 2024 draft pick only to have it ruined by Tommy DeVito and Tyrod Taylor late-season heroics. Having the 2025 top pick slip through their hands late in the season with a meaningless victory over Indianapolis.

Now, having hoped for Cam Ward but seeing all reports having him go to Tennessee at No. 1, then becoming excited about Travis Hunter before hearing that Cleveland is increasingly likely to take him at No. 2, some fans may have become resigned to being disappointed again come the last week of April. They could draft Shedeur Sanders, but increasingly the feeling is that he would be a stretch at No. 3.

That leaves Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter. Carter generally seems to create less excitement among Giants fans because (a) he doesn’t play offense, which is seen as the Giants’ greatest weakness, (b) he is perceived not to address a need on a team that already has Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux and signed Chauncey Golston in free agency.

The only thing I can say about the first point is that if social media are any indication, people criticize Joe Schoen for drafting for need rather than taking the best player available. How that jibes with his selection of Malik Nabers rather than one of the quarterbacks on the board last year, I don’t know. But if Ward and Hunter are off the board, Carter is the BPA.

Regarding the second point, how many edge rushers are too many? Let’s consult the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

The Eagles already had veterans Brandon Graham (now retired) and Josh Sweat, and they used a first round draft pick on Nolan Smith in 2023. Enough edge rush? Apparently not, because in 2024 they signed Bryce Huff to a 3 year, $51M free agent contract. Then they used their Round 3 2024 pick on Jalyx Hunt. All of this on a team that had used high first round picks on interior defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in successive years and already had third rounder Milton Williams from the 2021 draft. Even if Schoen picks up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option, you can never have too much pass rush, and having Carter would put Schoen in a more advantageous position if he decides that he wants to extend Thibodeaux.

The larger question is really: How good is Abdul Carter? Coming out of Penn State and wearing No. 11, it was inevitable if unfortunate that he’d be labeled the next Micah Parsons. And indeed, Parsons has been mentoring him:

Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter said he’s spoken to Micah Parsons about the draft process. pic.twitter.com/6T3rjjYDng

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) February 26, 2025​

To some extent it’s an unfair comparison - at this point at least, Carter does not appear to be as strong as Parsons, nor has he developed the breadth of moves that Parsons has. Still, there are remarkable similarities between their careers beyond the school and uniform number. Here are Parsons’ career college numbers:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Head coach James Franklin played Parsons mainly in the box as an off-ball linebacker, even occasionally in the slot. He only rushed the passer 135 times over two seasons, though more often in his second year. Maybe Franklin should have played him on the edge more often, considering that over two years Parsons had pressures on 36 of 135 pass rush snaps (27%).

When Parsons got to Dallas, things weren’t all that much different, at least initially:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn played Parsons as a linebacker more than half of the time as a rookie in 2021. Actually it varied from game to game: In some games Parsons would be on the edge all or most snaps, in other games in the box all or most snaps. In 2022 Quinn came to his senses, letting Parsons rush off the edge most of the time, and by last season, with Quinn now in Washington, he had all but stopped playing linebacker. As a pro Parsons has recorded a pressure on 19% of his pass rush snaps - lower than at Penn State but still excellent.

Carter’s college career, a year longer than Parsons’ due to the pandemic, evolved similarly but more dramatically:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

As with Parsons, Franklin played Carter mostly at linebacker his first two seasons. Then in his final season, he finally made him mostly an edge defender, and Carter exploded. That’s one advantage Carter will have over Parsons - he’s gotten to learn the edge position for a full season in college before facing NFL offensive linemen. Carter didn’t have as much pass rush production in college as Parsons (19%), but it was still pretty good.

Carter’s one weakness - if it can be called that - is his run defense. Carter’s PFF run defense grade was an above-average 78.2 in 2024 but was only tied for fifth among edge defenders entering the draft:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Looking at the details, it’s a mixed bag. The glaring things are his 13.3% missed tackle rate and seven penalties. On the other hand, his average depth of tackle (AVDT) was an outstanding 0.6 yards, best in the nation among edge defenders.

The other question about Carter coming out of college (assuming that the stress reaction in his right foot that was revealed at the Combine will heal without surgery) is whether he is so much better than the rest of what looks like a pretty deep field of edge defenders that it is the best use of the No. 3 pick on him. Parsons answered any questions about whether he was worth the No. 11 pick in his rookie year: His Pro Football Focus pass rush grade of 93.0 was 16.5 points higher than any other rookie pass rusher; his 14 sacks, despite spending some of his season at linebacker, were 4 more than second-place finishers Jaelan Phillips and Azeez Ojulari. In his final college year, though, Parsons’ PFF pass rush grade of 86.8 was only five points higher than those of Odafe Oweh and Yetur Gross-Matos, and his five sacks were the same as Oweh’s and six less than Gross-Matos’ - albeit in many fewer pass rush snaps (94 vs. 207 and 330).

For Carter the situation is less clear. There are no fewer than 17 edge defenders projected to be drafted in the first three rounds in the NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus Big Board:

Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database

Carter ranks first among this group in PFF pass rush grade, but only barely, and he was close to the top but not necessarily first in 2024 in metrics such as total pressures, sacks, and pass rush productivity (pressure percentage with quarterback hits and hurries weighted only half as much as sacks):

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Despite this depth, though, Carter routinely sits at the top of this group in every single ranking I’ve seen by analysts leading up to the draft. The Giants have few elite players, and many people believe that elite players are what brings a team a championship. Last year they stayed at No. 6 and took Malik Nabers, a need for sure but also arguably one of the top 5 players in that draft and probably the BPA when they drafted. They could have passed on Nabers, drafted a quarterback, and taken a wide receiver in a later round in a deep draft at that position.

Now the Giants still need a long-term answer at quarterback, and so Shedeur Sanders is a possibility, though many believe he is not worth that high a pick. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is also sitting there just below the top group on most big boards, and IDL is another glaring need for the Giants.

If Ward and Hunter are off the board at No. 3, what should the Giants do?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...ts-draft-should-the-giants-draft-abdul-carter

 

[New York Giants]

Giants NFL draft notebook: How would New York use Abdul Carter?

Abdul Carter | Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

The return of NASCAR?

Big Blue View’s Tony DelGenio asked a little while ago if the New York Giants should draft Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter at No. 3 if they have the chance.

Given the current roster, with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux already in place on the edges, how would the Giants get Carter on the field enough to justify using the third overall pick to select him? It is a valid question.

Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer has provided a glimpse into the potential answer.

The working belief at the moment is that Cam Ward goes No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans and that both the Cleveland Browns, with the second pick, and the Giants pass on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns are said to be leaning toward selecting Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, which would leave the Giants with a chance to select Carter, the other player in this draft considered potentially transformational.

Breer believes “Hunter would be the cleanest pick” for the Giants. Why? Because the Giants could use help at both positions he plays, and being a two-way player gives any team that selects him two bites at the apple in trying to get maximum value from him.

“Carter’s a little bit of a more difficult fit,” Breer said. “But from what I understand they view it as workable. It’s a good problem to have.

“Remember, this is the franchise that once had Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka all on the same roster,” Breer said. “They actually drafted Mathias Kiwanuka, if you remember, with those other three playing at a very high level. Their feeling was you can’t have enough pass rushers.”

Breer reminded that Carter played off-ball linebacker until the 2024 season, and said that the Giants could plan to use him there on early downs and then using Carter, Thibodeaux, Burns and Dexter Lawrence to rush the passer

Steve Spagnuolo made all of that work. Can current defensive coordinator Shane Bowen make it work if the Giants take Carter?

“How terrifying could it be for an offensive line to have to deal with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence in a sort of NASCAR-type package,” Breer said. “It’s not perfect. But it’s very workable if you believe Abdul Carter is as special as I think most people believe he is.”

Off-ball linebackers Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden might not love losing playing time to Carter, but at least initially this would seem to be a solid plan. And one we might actually see come to fruition.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...-notebook-how-would-new-york-use-abdul-carter

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants draft visits: QB Tyler Shough visiting on Wednesday

Tyler Shough | Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Could Shough be an option for the Giants at No. 34?

With most of the NFL Draft world currently believing the New York Giants will pass on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders at No. 3 in the upcoming draft, attention has turned to which quarterback New York might target in the next tier.

One of the intriguing quarterbacks in that group, Tyler Shough of Louisville, is visiting with the Giants on Wednesday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Shough is an odd prospect. He will be 26 in September, ancient for a draft prospect after an injury-plagued seven-year college journey. Yet, his tape clearly puts him among the best quarterbacks in the class.

In the newly-released draft guide by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, annually titled ‘The Beast,’ Shough is QB4 with a Round 2 grade. Brugler writes:

A one-year starter at Louisville, Shough was productive in head coach Jeff Brohm’s quarterback-friendly, spread offense (play action, spacing concepts, etc.). With one of the most unique college journeys in this class, he played three seasons at Oregon and three at Texas Tech before leading the Cardinals to an 8-4 record in 2024 — the first time in his seven-year college career that he played in more than eight games in a season.

With his drive velocity and body fluidity, Shough can make impressive rip-and-zip throws from a variety of arm slots and is a better athlete than expected, which helps him keep plays alive. His ability to expedite his process when the pocket deteriorates is promising, but he needs to improve his eye discipline to stay in sync with receivers when reading full progressions. Overall, Shough is overaged and needs to cut back on some of the high-risk passing decisions, but he is a gifted thrower with the functional mobility to work off schedule. He has the tools to work his way up a depth chart and make plays once on the field.

In his deep dive into Shough, BBV’s Chris Pflum asks the essential question:

“How will the NFL reckon with a 25-year-old prospect, who will be 26 in his rookie season, and with just one full year of real production?

“Tyler Shough is a grown, mentally and physically mature man – he’s married and has his master’s degree. It’s possible that teams will believe that he is what he is. Or it’s possible that they could see untapped upside and he could be the steal of the draft.”

Giants 2025 Draft Prospects Visit Tracker​

30 visits

Marcus Mbow (Purdue OL) — (Ryan Fowler)
Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado) — (Per Sanders)
Abdul Carter (Edge, Penn State) — (Albert Breer)
Joshua Farmer, DL, Florida State — (Melo)
Cam Ward, QB, Miami — NFLvisits.com
Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M — NFLvisits.com
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina — NFLvisits.com
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (Zierlein)
Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State — (Ryan Fowler)
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami — (Schefter)
Tyler Though, QB, Louisville — (Schefter)

Local Day

Eric Rogers, CB, Rutgers (Melo)
Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Christian Dremel, WR, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Hollin Pierce, OT Rutgers (Stapleton)
Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Tyreem Powell, LB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Amin Vanover, edge, Penn State (Stapleton)
Brian Ugwu, edge, Miami (OH) (Stapleton)
Ethan Robinson, CB, Minnesota (Ranaan)
Sidiki Kone, RB, American International (Ranaan)
Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame (Stapleton)

Pro Day meeting

Jake Majors, C, Texas (Melo)
LB Carson Schwesinger (Schefter)

Combine visits

(All from nflvisits.com)

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Jason Walker, edge, Georgia
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Jack Sawyer, LB, Ohio S
Jacob Bayer, C, Arkansas State

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...-visits-qb-tyler-shough-visiting-on-wednesday

 

[New York Giants]

2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Is Umanmielen an sleeper in a very good edge class?

If there’s one thing that quickly becomes abundantly clear about the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s that this is an incredibly deep and talented the edge class.

This class of edge defenders is so impressive that a player like Princely Umanmielen of Ole Miss is flying under the radar. Umanmielen had 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss after transferring from Florida to Ole Miss, but is still only on the periphery of the conversation regarding pass rushers.

The New York Giants have added depth players to fill out their depth on the defensive front, but have yet to replace Azeez Ojulari’s pass rush potential. Could Umanmielen be a value pick to fill the void on the second day of the draft?

Prospect: Princely Umanmielen (1)
Games Watched: vs. Kentucky (2024), vs. Arkansas (2024), vs. Georgia (2024)
Red Flags: Foot injury (2024)

Measurables​

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths​

Best traits

• First step
• Athleticism
• Competitive toughness
• Play strength

Princely Umanmielen is an athletic pass rusher with solid size, great competitive toughness, and untapped upside. He has a versatile frame at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds with 33 ⅝ inch arms, and he could find a natural fit in a modern “multiple” defensive front.

Umanmielen has an explosive first step as well as a relatively fluid lower body. He keys the snap very well and does a good job of exploding into the backfield. He has a quick first step and typically plays with good leverage. And while he might not have elite bend, he has the ability to turn a tight corner and carry his speed into the backfield when he plays with good technique.

He’s a disciplined rusher who doesn’t often fall for misdirection, nor does he freelance when faced with read-option plays. He understands his assignment at the mesh point and trusts his teammates to execute their assignments. Umanmielen also offers great competitive toughness throughout his game. He gives great effort trying to access the backfield if his rush is initially stopped and he has a strong motor in pursuit.

Finally, he has a good closing burst and is a wrap-up tackler. While he might not have great speed for a modern edge defender, he does have the ability to run down ball carriers through smart angles and is a hard hitter when he arrives at the ball.

Weaknesses​

Worst traits

• Hand usage
• Size

Umanmielen’s greatest weakness lies in his hand usage – or rather his lack thereof.

He flashed an understanding of how to use his hands to beat linemen and neutralize blocks, however it was inconsistent at best. Umanmielen often resorted to a blunt shoulder ram to jolt tackles before trying to force his way past them. He did make an attempt to win inside leverage once engaged, however his shoulder check frequently exposed his chest and back to blockers and allowed them to control him with relative ease. It also compromised his pad level and prevented him from carrying his speed around the edge.

That said, he did begin to flash rip and swipe moves as the year wore on. He became a much more effective and disruptive rusher when he began incorporating actual pass rush moves into his arsenal. They not only allowed him to carry his speed around the edge, but also prevented linemen from latching on and creating the drag which slowed him down early in the year.

Continuing to improve and become more consistent in his pass rush technique should be the point of emphasis in his early development.

Umanmielen also has a relatively slight build, particularly in his lower body and his frame as a whole is likely close to maxed out. He’s strong for his size, but he was rotated off the field in short-yardage situations.

Game Tape​

(Umanmielen is the Ole Miss edge defender wearing number 1, with red bands on both arms.)

Projection​

Princely Umanmielen projects as a rotational edge defender, at least to start his career.

He might be a starter some day, but teams might view him as more of a pass rush specialist early on. At the same time, he needs to land in a situation with good coaching to continue to develop his hand usage. He likely won’t have much impact at the NFL level if he can’t become a technician, as NFL linemen will find it easy to neutralize his default shoulder charge.

However, he has the potential to be disruptive if he can continue to develop his hands and rush with a defined plan.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes

Final Word: A later Day 2 value

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...cely-umanmielen-edge-ole-miss-scouting-report

 

[New York Giants]

Survey: How many games will the New York Giants win in 2025?

Can Schoen and Daboll save their jobs?

The New York Giants have their work cut out for them after a disasterous 2024 season. The team finished the year in tatters, without a quarterback, with several of their best players injured, and with their head coach and GM firmly on the Hot Seat.

The good news is that they seem to understand the assignment and aren't just chalking 2024 up to bad luck.

The Giants were one of the NFL's most active teams once free agency opened and addressed their most pressing deficiencies. They signed two of the top young defensive backs on the market in CB Paulson Adebo and S Javon Holland -- giving themselves a remarkabley young and talented secondary in the process. They added a pair of veteran quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to hold down the fort for 2025.

They also addressed the depth concerns on their offensive and defensive lines with a bevy of additions to offensive tackle, guard, and defensive line.

Of course, the Giants aren't done yet. The NFL draft is still a couple weeks away and the Giants need a Quarterback Of The Future who they can groom to be a Franchise Quarterback. And while the Giants' roster is in pretty good shape, they can also use all talent they can get.

But with the draft looming -- but not here yet -- we want to know: How many games do you think the Giants will win in 2025?

Considering the projected strength of the Giants' schedule, we set the Over/Under at 5.5 games. Hitting the over would mean winning at least three more games than in 2024 and should signify a team on the rise.

The other half of the question is whether the Giants will do enough this year to save the jobs of Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in New York Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...ny-games-will-the-new-york-giants-win-in-2025

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants draft visits: QB Jalen Milroe heading to East Rutherford

Jalen Milroe | Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Milroe will join parade of quarterback prospects to visit the Giants

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will take a ‘30 visit’ to the New York Giants, per a report from FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Per Schultz, Milroe recently visited with the Cleveland Browns, who are one pick ahead of the Giants in each of the first two rounds. Milroe also has upcoming visits with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, per Schultz.

Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, considered by most to be in the same general tier of quarterbacks as Milroe, visited with the Giants on Wednesday.

There has been increasing speculation in the draft community that the Giants will pass on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders at No. 3, with the expectation they might look to use a Day 2 draft pick to find a potential quarterback of the future.

Milroe, Shough and Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss are considered to be among the possibilities.

In a recent appearance on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast, skill position analyst Matt Waldman was bullish on Milroe’s NFL future:

“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 this about Milroe:

“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.”

Giants 2025 Draft Prospects Visit Tracker​

30 visits

Marcus Mbow (Purdue OL) — (Ryan Fowler)
Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado) — (Per Sanders)
Abdul Carter (Edge, Penn State) — (Albert Breer)
Joshua Farmer, DL, Florida State — (Melo)
Cam Ward, QB, Miami — NFLvisits.com
Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M — NFLvisits.com
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina — NFLvisits.com
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (Zierlein)
Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State — (Ryan Fowler)
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami — (Schefter)
Tyler Though, QB, Louisville — (Schefter)
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama — (Schultz)

Local Day

Eric Rogers, CB, Rutgers (Melo)
Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Christian Dremel, WR, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Hollin Pierce, OT Rutgers (Stapleton)
Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Tyreem Powell, LB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Amin Vanover, edge, Penn State (Stapleton)
Brian Ugwu, edge, Miami (OH) (Stapleton)
Ethan Robinson, CB, Minnesota (Ranaan)
Sidiki Kone, RB, American International (Ranaan)
Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame (Stapleton)

Pro Day meeting

Jake Majors, C, Texas (Melo)
LB Carson Schwesinger (Schefter)

Combine visits

(All from nflvisits.com)

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Jason Walker, edge, Georgia
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Jack Sawyer, LB, Ohio S
Jacob Bayer, C, Arkansas State

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...ts-qb-jalen-milroe-heading-to-east-rutherford

 

[New York Giants]

Your daily Giants trivia game, Thursday edition

Think you can figure out which Giants player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Big Blue View in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in the Google Form.

Today’s Big Blue View in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Monday, April 7, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Big Blue View in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Giants player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/10/24405254/sb-nation-giants-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[New York Giants]

Does Shedeur Sanders really want to be drafted by the New York Giants?

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

ESPN’s Louis Riddick doesn’t think so

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders wore New York Giants-themed cleats before his team’s appearance in the Alamo Bowl. He has talked about being a Giant a number of times. He was seen dapping up Giants coach Brian Daboll at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, though, does Sanders really want to be a New York Giant?

ESPN’s Louis Riddick doesn’t think so. In fact, Riddick told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that he does not believe Sanders actually wants to land with any of the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns or Giants — the teams with the top three picks.

“I hope he doesn’t go in the top three picks,” Riddick said regarding Shedeur on First Take. “I hope he doesn’t. And I think his camp would tell you the same thing. There are other teams they want to go to.”

Cabot spoke to Riddick later in the day.

“In some respects, there are other teams that I hope he goes to, that I think would be good fits for him,” Riddick told Cabot. “I do feel that way. I do feel like him going to a place like New Orleans or going to a place like Pittsburgh or Las Vegas, I think they would be very good fits for him.”

Riddick believes Deion Sanders sees things the same way.

“He knows that every kid, every parent wants to be drafted as high as possible, but sometimes if you do slide — and I’m not saying that he is or isn’t, I don’t know what’s going to happen — but if he does slide, it’s not the end of the world,” Riddick told Cabot. “It could wind up being better for you. That’s the point.”

Deion Sanders was asked on the ‘Football 301’ podcast if he and Shedeur would “pull an Eli” and orchestrate getting to a specific team. He said he won’t have to.

“Some of those teams probably won’t pick my sons [including Shilo], anyway,” Deion Sanders said. “You don’t have to get ruffled up over something that ain’t gonna happen no way.

“I would probably do something behind the curtain, but I don’t need to.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...lly-want-to-be-drafted-by-the-new-york-giants

 

[New York Giants]

Todd McShay mock draft: New York Giants trade back into Round 1 for risky quarterback

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

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?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...ack-into-round-1-for-quarterback-jalen-milroe

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 4/10: Drafting a quarterback on Day 3, Tyler Shough, Dillon Gabriel, more headlines

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New York Giants headlines for Thursday

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• How successful are quarterbacks drafted on Day 3?
• Survey: How many games will the New York Giants win in 2025?
• New York Giants draft visits: QB Tyler Shough visiting on Wednesday
• Should the Giants draft Abdul Carter?
• Giants NFL draft notebook: How would New York use Abdul Carter?
• New York Giants to host former Bears DE for free agent visit
• 2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
• 2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
• NFL pro days schedule, results tracker 2025: What to know about pre-draft workouts
• New York Giants 2025 free agency | New York Giants 2025 Draft

Other Giant observations​

Make-or-break time: Giants, Dolphins among NFL regimes under most pressure to deliver in 2025 | CBSSports.com​

New York Giants. If anyone’s on the verge of a blowup, it’s these guys. And isn’t that almost always the case in East Rutherford, New Jersey? Owner John Mara showed a surprising level of restraint when he retained coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen not only after an ugly 2023 but a wholly dysfunctional 2024; he’d previously axed three straight coaches after no more than two seasons apiece. But with Daniel Jones finally cast out as the failed quarterback of the future, two veteran replacements added in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, plus a No. 3 overall pick awaiting in the draft, this feels like the current front office’s last shot to prove the spirit of a surprise 2022 playoff bid is still alive. The issue: They still need a better foundation for whomever’s throwing the ball.

Phil Simms: “I’d be surprised if they took a swing at (Shedeur Sanders)”​

Phil Simms says he’d be surprised if the Giants draft Shedeur Sanders.

: https://t.co/FVf2qyIU29

: https://t.co/8FeEaS9Zft pic.twitter.com/hyd9Kcjjts

— Bleav (@BleavNetwork) April 9, 2025​

What the Giants might do at QB in the 2025 NFL Draft | New York Post​

Unless you have been hibernating for several months, you are aware the Giants want to get something done at quarterback in this draft.

Cam Ward appears to be unreachable, with the Titans set to take him at No. 1.

How does Shedeur Sanders fit into the Giants' draft picture? | ESPN​

"I think the 31 teams that don't pick him are going to find out that those two things [lack of arm strength and athleticism] aren't correct really," former NFL coach and current Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur told ESPN in a phone interview. "I mean, I think he's got a really good arm and when you talk about arm talent, you talk about being able to make all the throws, being able to throw the ball accurately and being able to throw the ball with touch. And I think he can do all those things. I think of all the throws that you can make in college, and they're pretty similar to what you would make in the NFL, I don't know of any throw he can't make. So I think that would dispel that myth.

Abdul Carter is the favorite to go No. 3 overall in 2025 NFL draft | Pro Football Talk​

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has emerged as a strong favorite to go with the third overall pick.Carter is favored at major sports books to go No. 3, and he’s a significant favorite in the -200 range. The Giants own the third overall pick, and with the draft just over two weeks away, Carter appears to be their guy.

2025 NFL Draft: Best Day 3 fits for all 32 NFL teams | PFF​

Prospect to target: RB Devin Neal, Kansas. Even with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary in the fold, the Giants' backfield is far from solidified, evidenced by the unit's 30th-ranked PFF rushing grade (66.9) in 2024. New York deployed gap runs at the fourth-highest in the NFL last season, making Neal a natural fit after he earned an 86.9 PFF rushing grade on the concept in 2024.

NFL Takeaways: How Cam Ward Emerged As the Likely No. 1 Draft Pick | SI.com​

Jameis Winston’s deal has $250,000 incentives for 43%, 50%, 60% and 70% playing time, a 92.5 passer rating, a 65% completion percentage, 15-plus TDs and an 88.0 passer rating, 2,200 yards and a 88.0 rating; and $500,000 incentives for 50% playing time and reaching the playoffs, 70% playing time and the playoffs, 55% playing time in a playoff win with 30% in the regular season, and 55% playing time in two playoff wins and 30% in the regular season

What will Jameis Winston offer the Giants in 2025?​

Shaun O'Hara breaks down Jameis Winston's 2024 game tape ️ pic.twitter.com/qPRpHil7xI

— New York Giants (@Giants) April 3, 2025​

2025 NFL Draft: One burning question for each NFC team before Round 1 begins | NFL.com​

BURNING QUESTION: Is the quarterback situation going to end up being a positive?

It feels like Part 1 of the Giants' quarterback plan was the addition of Russell Wilson as the starter on a one-year deal and Jameis Winston as his backup. Part 2 comes in the draft, when we see if they can find a quarterback they want to develop while one or both of those veterans serves as a bridge to the future. It's not a bad idea, given the options available to them. It just seems that adding two big personalities who are past the point of playing their best football to a team that won three games last season is a train wreck waiting to happen. This upcoming Giants campaign won't be defined by whether Wilson can perform at a decent level or if Winston has to take over at some point. It will come down to whether the team can find a real light at the end of this tunnel it has been stuck in at quarterback, which means the brass had better select a player who can excite people. Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are heading into Year 4 together. This could be their last chance to move that franchise to a better place.

Giants appearance on Hard Knocks nominated for Sports Emmy | USAToday.com​

This week, HBO received a 2025 Sports Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Documentary Series — Serialized category for their efforts covering the Giants’ dysfunction.

Around the league​

Dallas Cowboys free agency: OL Saahdiq Charles joins on a 1-year deal | Blogging The Boys

Brian Schottenheimer on the job: Building culture, balancing being head coach, play caller | The Athletic

Justin Simmons talks about possibly playing for Philly, again | Bleeding Green Nation

QB Justin Fields not worried about Jets drafting his replacement ahead of first season in New York | NFL.com

New York Jets: Tops in QB draft capital spent, bottom in QB results | Gang Green Nation

Cardinals' Kyler Murray 'open to running more' in '25 with knee injury behind him | NFL.com

Trevor Lawrence will have pitch count in offseason, but should be ready for Week 1 | Pro Football Talk

Former NFLPA exec believes expansion to 18 games will happen before 2029 | Pro Football Talk

NFL Draft 2025 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports and player rankings | The Athletic

BBV mailbag​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...-3-tyler-shough-dillon-gabriel-more-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

Making the case: Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter?

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

If they have a choice, which one should the Giants draft?

The New York Giants are in an advantageous position with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans hold the first pick in the draft, and odds suggest that Miami quarterback Cam Ward will find a home in Nashville, leaving one of Colorado phenom Travis Hunter and Penn State edge Abdul Carter as possible selections for the Giants at three.

Of course, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is also in the conversation for New York. Nevertheless, the Giants may forgo selecting Sanders in the first round and possibly add one of two blue-chip prospects.

Drafting Abdul Carter would arguably give New York the best pass rush in the NFL. Brian Burns and Carter are screaming off the edge, Dexter Lawrence pushing the pocket, and Kayvon Thibodeaux inside as a NASCAR rusher, which is just one of many unique and dangerous combinations at Bowen’s disposal.

Micah Parsons did attend Penn State and wore number 11, but the comparisons are still apt, albeit lofty. Bowen’s simulated pressure package of four rushers — coupled with his twist game — would strike fear into the souls of every offensive line coach. Carter and Burns are plenty fluid enough to navigate space. The options are endless.

Then there’s Travis Hunter — an A+ character kid with All-Pro upside at cornerback and wide receiver. Few players possess Hunter's overall movement skills. Pairing him with Malik Nabers — even if in limited offensive packages — would give Brian Daboll’s offense immense upside. Hunter could also quickly develop into the Giants’ cornerback one if Tae Banks’ development declines.

Here are my scouting reports on both players:

Abdul Carter​

Strengths

• Chiseled elite athlete with rare suddenness and explosiveness
• Rare agility and change of direction – gets very low into his rush
• Insane acceleration – smooth!
• Avoids contact well – is like NEO from the Matrix when rushing
• Urgent, Urgent, Urgent mover
• Amazing bend/control to contort his body while cornering up the arc
• Quick feet set OL up for failure – understands how to set OL up
• Can get very low with his rush – knee scraping the deck as he orients his hips into the pocket
• Rare ability to flatten at the top of the arc
• Does an excellent job absorbing contact up the arc
• Elite inside spin move assists his incredible burst up the arc – keeps OT honest
• Very good hand usage to keep distance and separate from OL
• Feet and hands work well together when rushing passer
• Beautiful dip/rip combination to win the edge with elite speed
• Flashed a variety of pass rushing moves
• Good overall play strength with excellent closing burst into contact
• Flashed power rush moves
• Insanely smart and natural pass rusher
• Understands how to angle his body and avoid contact while rushing
• Only played one true year at EDGE – upside is through the roof
• Can play all over the defensive front – was a very good LB in 2022/2023
• Solid overall run defender who still has room to improve (as LB/EDGE)
• Quick backside pursuit – immediate read defender
• Crashes the backside with authority – dangerous unblocked player
• Very aggressive style of play – good force into contact
• Solid coverage player with plenty of movement skills/fluidity to operate zone drops
• Controlled enough to handle man responsibilities if asked
• Very versatile player who can handle several aspects of front seven play
• Has room to grow into his frame
• Just turned 21 years old

Weaknesses

• Seems smaller than his listed size (some speculate he’s sub-235)
• Not the longest edge
• Still a little raw as an edge rusher
• Can run himself out of fit, trying to win up the arc
• Has good overall play strength but it can be thwarted by long/strong and technically sound offensive tackles
• Misses a lot of tackles – 19.1% missed tackle rate in college
• 2023 tape showed mistakes at LB – is not a technically sound run defender at the edge or LB
• Could work on tackling fundamentals to become more secure
• Not a bad run defender but is clearly more of a pass rusher
• Needs more time learning how to anchor vs. the run/recognize rushing schemes
• Deconstructing blocks once engaged in base situations needs to improve vs. the run
• Relies heavily on impressive movement skills to avoid lock up with OTs vs. the run
• Was charged with a misdemeanor for assaulting a tow truck driver in 2024

There are few players in recent NFL drafts who have the type of pass rushing upside as Abdul Carter, which is one of the many reasons why he’s compared to Micah Parsons, among the obvious ones. Carter is an insanely sudden and quick athlete with a NEO like ability to avoid contact and contort his body around the punches of offensive tackles. Carter keeps forward momentum with elite control while exploding up the rushing arc. Few players win high-side like Carter, and even fewer use their feet/hands so well together.

He gets his hips oriented into the pocket so fast and gets so low to avoid contact; when he is contacted, he does a good job staying balanced or angling his body to mitigate the strength of the contact. Carter is DANGEROUS in a phone booth, with a sensational inside spin move and rare speed to win through either shoulder. He also flashes power rush moves, albeit he’s more finesse right now. BUT his finesse is so fantastic, that offensive lineman are more susceptible to the power he does possess, for their ability to frame and engage Carter are hindered by his raw talent.

Carter will be selected as an edge to rush the passer and use his elite physical traits. He does offer value as a linebacker for a creative defensive coordinator; his best utilization as a linebacker is stacked, allowing him to scrape/flow to the football relatively unscathed. His eyes/ability to trigger are accentuated by his elite burst, albeit he’s still wild and did misjudge his path into the backfield as a LB prior to 2024.

I don’t want to say Carter is fool-proof, even though I love his tape and ability. There’s a non-zero chance that Carter may be targeted on early downs and could be exposed against better – more physical – teams in the trenches. On the flip side, he has room to grow into his body, he’s insanely athletic, and he only has one year as an edge. Sure, a defensive coordinator may have to get creative if Carter struggles to consistently defend the run, but his run defense ability in college doesn’t suggest a liability, just not a certainty; and his pass rushing skills are through the roof. It’s something to acknowledge, but not a deal breaker by any means.

If Carter works on his block shedding ability and his eyes to perceive the offensive intentions, along with adding some strength, he will be a massive asset as a run defender; and these are achievable feats considering the traits Carter possesses. There aren’t many players in consideration for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Carter is one of them and it’s easy to see why.

Travis Hunter​

Strengths

• Solid height with a lean frame that could add weight
• Rare – ELITE – athlete with exceptional balance and control
• Rare change of direction ability and elite fluidity
• Rare twitch and springy nature
• One of the more sudden athletes to play football in college
• Elite speed and acceleration – has multiple gears and routinely ruins the angles of defenders
• Is a home-run threat on every play
• Elite explosiveness and sensational tempo management
• Exceptional foot speed + solid release package
• Quick stacking threat who can ruin a defender’s day in less than a second
• Uses hands and feet well to release and create immediate separation at the LOS
• Excellent micromovements up his stem, followed by deception and elite – smooth – breaks
• Creates extra separation at the break with elite deceptive movements that he employs well
• Easily breaks off routes and can instantaneously orient to quarterback on curls/comebacks
• Very good route runner with ELITE route running potential
• Understands how to attack/manipulate and run away (when necessary) from defensive leverage/positioning
• Quickly eats into the leverage of off-man coverage – forces DBs onto their heel / inspires fear
• Sensational hand-eye coordination allows him to maximize his already impressive reaction skills
• Attacks the football – ALPHA mentality
• Elite soft hands with an excellent ability to extend away from his frame and locate the ball
• Rare body adjustment and leaping ability to high point
• Unreal concentration and tracking ability
• Excels in Jump ball situations
• Acrobatic Catch Trait
• Found ways to defeat bracket coverage in college
• Rare YAC skills – very tough to track down in space
• Rare short-area quickness and body control – along with processing – make him an excellent MEG man coverage cornerback
• Excellent overall man coverage skills – stays in the hip / tough to create separation against
• Spatially aware zone coverage defender with elite click & close ability downhill
• Very good overall zone cornerback
• Can execute any leverage/coverage assignment
• Has upside to be a shutdown No. 1 CB
• Good feet and jam at the LOS
• Exercises excellent space and understands leverage/depth as CB
• Would bait QBs in coverage to throw downfield – KNOWs his strengths
• High level CB and WR instincts
• Good technique as a CB in coverage – improved in 2024
• Strong challenges at the catch point – is a hawk for the football
• Willing tackler who does a solid overall job
• Not the biggest CB but did have reps where he displayed good play strength to physically harass opposing WRs
• Rare conditioning and stamina
• Elite processing and feel for the game on both sides of the football
• Elite competitive toughness and is reportedly an EXCELLENT young man

Weaknesses

• Slightly undersized with a thin frame
• Play strength against bigger – stronger – receivers in the NFL is fair to question
• Solid release package BUT did have reps where he was eliminated by press
• Not a bad blocker – he tries hard but it’s still a work in progress
• Tackling is not a “weakness” but he lacks difference-making POP on contact
• Shedding blocks vs. TEs – when he can’t dip/go around – isn’t elite
• Has missed games in each of his three collegiate seasons – workload issue?
• Not a “weakness” but coaching staff will have to figure out how to best employ his immense talent – again, what a “problem” to have!

Travis Hunter is a rare – smooth – athlete who may be the best corner and wide receiver in this draft class. There are few players with Hunter’s level of athleticism. The Heisman Trophy winner is elite at creating separation through deceptive route running, including, but not limited to, lethal micromovements throughout his stem that lead to cornerback consternation; he also creates separation with his rare acceleration, change of direction, agility, and home-run ability – Hunter possesses multiple gears and understands how to tempo his pace well to manipulate defenders and maximize space. He is a VERY smart player.

Hunter possesses the acrobatic catch trait and routinely showcases his effortless nature to succeed in contested catch situations. He tracks, locates, attacks, and secures tough passes better than most player’s I’ve watched in college football. Hunter is a dangerous YAC player with sudden movements that consistently make defenders miss – had 24 missed tackles forced in 2024 (tied for sixth-most of all wide receivers). Hunter is a threat at each level of the field, he understands how to run routes (still growth areas which are INSANELY high), and he has reliable hands. Hunter’s ceiling as a wide receiver is very high and that doesn’t even touch what he can offer on defense.

His man coverage skills are elite; he’s sticky in coverage with solid press ability and elite fluidity. Hunter understands defensive leverage and space, while possessing the necessary ability to know where/when his teammates will be in a specific spot while executing zone assignments. Inside/outside – off/press, doesn’t matter; Hunter excels in man coverage. He is a very good zone defender as well. While his strength isn’t elite, it’s not a liability and he is a willing tackler who doesn’t miss many opportunities to tackle. He’s not an enforcer on defense and bigger wide receivers could give him issues when they’re blocking him.

Hunter is the most decorated player in a season throughout the history of college football for good reason. The term unicorn or unique is used too frequently into today’s draft discourse, but Hunter certainly fits both descriptions. He’s a rare talent and reportedly a rare individual off the field. Coaching staffs will have to figure out how to best employ his skills while being cognizant of his workload. It will be team dependent, but a full-time corner with a few offensive packages (third down/red zone) seems to make sense. He can immediately and significantly impact both sides of the football for a team, which is basically unforeseen in recent football memory. The sky is his only limit.

Final Thoughts​

Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, which way should the Giants go? I don’t think New York could go wrong with either, and the Cleveland Browns will likely decide for the Giants by taking one of the two off the board. I would be happy with either; however, if I chose, I would take Hunter and start him off on offense. I would work him into defense, but give Tae Banks one more shot to solidify himself as a starter opposite Paulson Adebo.

Ideally, Banks would win that job and Hunter could focus on offense with possible defensive usage in specific packages, which — admittedly — is much harder to do than the other way around. If something happened to Banks or Adebo, Hunter would be cross-trained (if possible) and act as a quick remedy to kick defensively. I wouldn’t typically advocate for this approach, but rave reviews about Hunter’s football intelligence and coachability make me more willing to deviate creatively.

Sanders is still a possibility at three, and it should not be ruled out. Joe Schoen has attended plenty of Colorado games, and a long-term solution at quarterback remains a big need. It’s exciting times for the New York Giants two weeks out from the draft.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...making-the-case-travis-hunter-or-abdul-carter

 

[New York Giants]

2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Is Fannin the most versatile offensive weapon in the class?

One of the interesting features of the 2025 NFL Draft is the number of good players coming from unexpected locations.

Not only is it a testament to the work done by recruiting services and smaller schools to uncover talent, but it’s to NFL scouts putting in the work to evaluate small programs that might previously have been overlooked.

Harold Fannin Jr. might have gone to Bowling Green — hardly a football powerhouse — but he might also be one of the premier offensive weapons in this year’s draft. He’s incredibly versatile, contributing as a blocker and shining as a receiver from all over the Bowling Green offensive formation.

And while he isn’t big, nor an incredibly dynamic athlete, but he still racked up 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns on 117 receptions. He’s a threat to all three levels and is also a very capable player with the ball in his hands.

Could Fannin Jr. be an X-factor for the New York Giants offense if the value lines up?

Prospect: Harold Fannin Jr. (0)
Games Watched: vs. Penn State (2024), vs. Toledo (2024), vs. Western Michigan (2024)

Measurables​

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.Football

Strengths​

Best traits

• Ball skills
• Route running
• Body control
• Quickness & agility
• Competitive toughness

Harold Fannin Jr. is an exceptionally versatile tight end prospect who lined up all over the Bowling Green offensive formation.

He took snaps at in-line and detached tight end, slot receiver, wide receiver, and H-back. His versatility is thanks to a 6-foot-3, 241-pound frame that, while not ideal for any one position, allows him to execute at a huge variety of positions. Fannin has enough size to play out of the backfield or as a tight end, while also having the quickness, agility, and body control to execute as a slot or wide receiver.

Fannin is a very savvy route runner who has an efficient release package, which allows him to quickly slip contact at the line of scrimmage and get into his routes with no wasted energy or movement. He runs a broad route tree and was used at all three levels. He’s a precise and savvy route runner who understands both coverage schemes and how route concepts attack them.

He does a great job of finding the open field as well as manipulating his routes to create separation. Fannin will bend his route stem, use a variety of head and body fakes, or press his stem into defenders before breaking – all to create separation opportunities at the top of his routes. Conversely, he also understands how to use his routes to create traffic to help his teammates.

Fannin has very good ball skills, doing a great job of locating and tracking the ball in the air, making adjustments to maximize his receiving window, and extending to pluck the ball away from his body. Fannin frames the catch well and has very soft hands to make tough catches in traffic.

He’s a dangerous player with the ball in his hands, with good vision, body control, and contact balance. Likewise, he’s big enough that he’s a problem for defensive backs to bring down one-on-one.

Fannin is best thought of as “functional” as a blocker. He isn’t overwhelming, but can do enough to “lose slow” around the line of scrimmage when he’s playing with good leverage and positioning. He shines, however, when blocking at the second level or in space on screens.

Weaknesses​

Worst traits

• Long speed
• Size
• Play strength

While Fannin is an exceptionally versatile player, he might not have the ability to be a classic “Y” tight end in the NFL.

Fannin lacks ideal measurables at 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, and is a couple inches – and about 20 pounds – smaller than the “prototypical” tight end. He’s a competitive blocker and effective when used correctly, but NFL teams likely shouldn’t expect him to hold up when asked to block edge defenders as an in-line tight end.

Likewise, he doesn’t have the raw athleticism to be a true “match-up nightmare” at the NFL level.

Game Tape​

(Note: I normally abstain from using highlights and instead use full game cuts to illustrate a prospect’s full game — good and bad, and how they play when the ball goes away from them. However, publicly available tape on Fannin is extremely scarce.)

Projection​

Harold Fannin Jr. projects as an important and versatile offensive weapon at the NFL level.

Whether Fannin projects becomes a starter is almost irrelevant to his evaluation. He might not be on the field to take the first snap in the “standard” 11-personnel West Coast inspired offense. However, he can line up all over the field and be used to attack the defense in a huge variety of ways.

Teams that use a relatively high rate of 12-personnel or 21-personnel packages could find tremendous value in Fannin. He has the potential to be a very good player and a real headache for defenses if he lands with a team that allows him to play to his strengths.

Does he fit the Giants?
Probably not

Final Word: A very early Day 2 value

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...ld-fannin-jr-te-bowling-green-scouting-report

 

[New York Giants]

Abdul Carter stress reaction called a ‘non-factor’

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Carter visiting Giants after medical re-check

Before he headed to East Rutherford, N.J. on Thursday for his highly-anticipated ‘30 visit’ with the New York Giants, Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter went to Indianapolis for a recheck of the stress reaction in his foot.

Carter reportedly got good news.

Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Carter’s foot is healing and no surgery will be needed.

“It should be a non-factor with the teams at this point,” Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said.

Recent mock drafts have trended toward giving Carter to the Giants with the third overall pick. Todd McShay did so in a mock draft released on Thursday. 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.

Carter is Dane Brugler’s No. 2 overall prospect. The Athletic draft analyst writes:

A three-year starter at Penn State, Carter lined up as a wide rusher in former defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s four-man line, standing up and rushing with his hand on the ground. After initially wanting to stay at of-ball linebacker, he made the transition to an edge role in 2024 and lived up to high expectations, ranking No. 1 in the FBS in tackles for loss (23.5), No. 2 in pressures (66) and No. 7 in sacks (12.5). His production matches his traits, and his impact was best captured in a 2024 Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, even though Carter played that game with an injured left shoulder.

With only one season under his belt as a true edge rusher, Carter needs continued polish in his attack. His arrow is pointing sky high, though, because of his get-of burst, body twitch and competitive intensity. Despite having average size for run-game responsibilities, he regains his balance quickly after taking a jolt from blockers and plays with tremendous range to slip blocks and close in a flash. Overall, Carter is a disruptive presence, because of his explosive nature and how he mixes up his rushes to win with speed, force and a budding arsenal of moves. He projects as a 1A pass rusher, with a gift for consistently making the quarterback move his feet and making plays in the run game.

Would you like to see Carter join the Giants?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...bdul-carter-stress-reaction-called-non-factor

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants draft visits: RB Omarion Hampton visits the Giants

Omarion Hampton | Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Giants have met with a number of backs in buildup to draft

The visits to the New York Giants by quarterback prospect Jalen Milroe, which is occurring Thursday in East Rutherford, is the one getting attention. The Giants, though, are also hosting another player on Thursday who could be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft.

Per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Giants are hosting North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton for a ‘30’ visit.

That is an interesting one.

There is no chance the Giants would consider selecting Hampton, the No. 2 running back in the class behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

Would they select Hampton in the middle or late portion of Round 1 after a trade down. Considering GM Joe Schoen’s often-stated aversion to selecting running backs in the first round that seems highly unlikely.

This could be due diligence on the Giants’ part in the event that Hampton falls to No. 34, the Giants’ pick in Round 2.

To say the least, it is interesting that the Giants have spent a fair amount of time investigating the running back market in the upcoming draft class. Among backs they are known to have visited with are Hampton, Kaleb Johnson of Iowa, Kyle Monangai of Rutgers, Ollie Gordon of Oklahoma State and Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State.

Perhaps it is an indication they could be intent on adding another back to a position that already includes Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary.

Giants 2025 Draft Prospects Visit Tracker​

30 visits

Marcus Mbow (Purdue OL) — (Ryan Fowler)
Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado) — (Per Sanders)
Abdul Carter (Edge, Penn State) — (Albert Breer)
Joshua Farmer, DL, Florida State — (Melo)
Cam Ward, QB, Miami — NFLvisits.com
Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M — NFLvisits.com
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina — NFLvisits.com
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (Zierlein)
Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State — (Ryan Fowler)
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami — (Schefter)
Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville — (Schefter)
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama — (Schultz)
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina — (Rapoport)

Local Day

Eric Rogers, CB, Rutgers (Melo)
Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Christian Dremel, WR, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Hollin Pierce, OT Rutgers (Stapleton)
Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Tyreem Powell, LB, Rutgers (Stapleton)
Amin Vanover, edge, Penn State (Stapleton)
Brian Ugwu, edge, Miami (OH) (Stapleton)
Ethan Robinson, CB, Minnesota (Ranaan)
Sidiki Kone, RB, American International (Ranaan)
Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame (Stapleton)

Pro Day meeting

Jake Majors, C, Texas (Melo)
LB Carson Schwesinger (Schefter)

Combine visits

(All from nflvisits.com)

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Jason Walker, edge, Georgia
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Jack Sawyer, LB, Ohio S
Jacob Bayer, C, Arkansas State

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...t-visits-rb-omarion-hampton-visits-the-giants

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 4/11: Abdul Carter injury update, Jalen Milroe, Omarion Hampton, more headlines

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New York Giants headlines for Friday

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• Making the case: Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter?
• Abdul Carter stress reaction called a ‘non-factor’
• Does Shedeur Sanders really want to be drafted by the New York Giants?
• Todd McShay mock draft: New York Giants trade back into Round 1 for risky quarterback
• New York Giants draft visits: QB Jalen Milroe heading to East Rutherford
• New York Giants draft visits: RB Omarion Hampton visits the Giants
• 2025 NFL Draft prospect profile - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
• NFL pro days schedule, results tracker 2025: What to know about pre-draft workouts
• New York Giants 2025 free agency | New York Giants 2025 Draft

Other Giant observations​

Five NFC teams that must ace 2025 NFL Draft: Cowboys, Giants under pressure to find instant-impact talent | CBSSports.com​

New York Giants Top pick: No. 3 overall | Total picks: 8

It doesn’t matter who’s running the coaching staff or front office or quarterback room; the Giants are perpetually rebuilding. Current leaders Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, meanwhile, could use both more instant playmakers in the mold of Malik Nabers, and a sturdy longer-term arm to succeed veteran stopgaps Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. And that’s not even mentioning the offensive front, which has frequently been undermanned and overpowered. Basically, they need a little of everything.

Shedeur’s trainer: He has the same traits as Joe Burrow​

@DarrellColbert7

The trainer for Shedeur Sanders had an eyebrow-raising comp when we asked for whom the Colorado QB reminds him:#NFL #NFLDraft @TomPelissero pic.twitter.com/rS2SdyIa1V

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 10, 2025​

NFL Confidential: Why teams are split on top QB/WR prospects in 2025 NFL Draft | FOX Sports​

Milroe has interviewed well, and even some clubs who aren’t run-heavy are intrigued. Several teams believe he’s worth a pick somewhere in the 20–50 range due to his upside. After recent private workouts with the Browns and Saints that were deemed “impressive,” Milroe, according to sources, has upcoming visits scheduled with the Giants, Rams and Seahawks.

“He’s got a super-strong arm — even by NFL standards,” the AFC East scout said. “Good touch on the long ball. He just needs more reps and time to refine his layering ... see more defenses, watch more tape. Think more football in general. That’ll come. He’s one of those guys — if you see it, you go get him,” the scout added. “He might not start Day 1, but in this quarterback class, his ceiling is too high to ignore.”

2025 NFL Draft: Meet our 5 favorite quarterback fits for NY Giants | The Record​

Kyle McCord, Syracuse: McCord's only year at Syracuse after transferring from Ohio State was exceptional. His 4,779 passing yards was not only the FBS leader for the season, but he also broke the all-time ACC record. He set school records in attempts (592), completions (391) and touchdown passes (34). I've heard some Brock Purdy comps with McCord, who could be successful in the right system and some patience.

How Giants might address biggest needs in NFL Draft 2025 | Best available QBs, OL, DTs | NJ.com​

The Giants need a long-term quarterback answer. Any NFL fan with a brain knows that by now. But that’s not the only position general manager Joe Schoen must address when the draft kicks off in Green Bay later this month. Not even close.

Schoen may have filled plenty of holes in free agency with the signings of Jevon Holland, Paulson Adebo and others, but the fourth-year, hot-seat GM still has plenty of work to do if he wants these Giants to compete in 2025.

What does Jevon Holland bring to the Giants?​

Giants fans, get ready for Jevón Holland pic.twitter.com/LYSO7i43ID

— New York Giants (@Giants) April 9, 2025​

Ranking the 10 players, coaches under the most pressure in 2025 NFL season | FOX Sports​

3. Brian Daboll, head coach, New York Giants. Daboll and GM Joe Schoen have received a reprieve from Giants owner John Mara but must figure out how to quickly build a winning team. For now, that means bringing in veteran QB Russell Wilson to help revive one of the worst offenses in the league after failing to develop Daniel Jones and letting Saquon Barkley, the team’s best player, go to New York’s NFC East rival, where he helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title. Daboll faces the challenging task of figuring out the quarterback position in the short term (Wilson) while also drafting a long-term answer at the position, whether that may be Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe.

The state of all 32 franchises heading into the 2025 NFL Draft | PFF​

Remaining Depth/Future Needs: QB, G, EDGE, Dl. Greg Van Roten and Evan Neal aren’t under contract in 2026, and Giants guards cumulatively posted the 23rd-best PFF overall grade, which makes guard a position to target. Along the defensive line, Kayvon Thibodeaux could be on the trade block, while new signing Roy Robertson-Harris recorded only a 52.8 PFF overall grade last year.

Trade bait! One player from all 32 teams who could be dealt around the NFL Draft | FOX Sports​

New York Giants: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux. Trading a 25-year-old pass rusher who had 11.5 sacks two years ago wouldn't make a lot of sense for a rebuilding team … unless it knows it's got a replacement ready. So, this really depends on whether the Giants end up drafting Penn State's Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick. If they do, they might conclude that they're not going to pay Thibodeaux big money when his contract expires after the season (or after 2026, if they pick up his fifth-year option), especially when they've already got huge money committed to DE Brian Burns and DT Dexter Lawrence. It might hurt them in the short term, but a deal could be a long-term help because a player like Thibodeaux could bring multiple premium draft picks in return.

Around the league​

Brandon Graham leaves the door open on a potential return | Pro Football Talk

Ohio State’s Will Howard believes he’s best QB in NFL draft | ESPN

Aaron Jones: J.J. McCarthy is a winner | Pro Football Talk

Browns QB Deshaun Watson: 'Everyone is doubting me,' but I'll come back 'way better than before' | NFL.com

Colts release kicker Matt Gay two years after giving him big deal | ESPN

Pat Freiermuth: Steelers O with DK Metcalf, George Pickens to cause 'a lot of conflict' for defenses | NFL

More Drama Between Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Revealed | SI.com

Why the Bucs are optimistic about Haason Reddick after ‘weird’ year with Jets | ESPN

New York Jets: Woody Johnson comments highlight organizational problem | Gang Green Nation

NFL fires three officials, relegates them to college ranks in unprecedented move, per report | CBSSports.com

BBV mailbag​

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...e-jalen-milroe-omarion-hampton-more-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants mock draft tracker: Moving away from quarterback at No. 3

Photo by Ed Valentine

Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter share the top spot

Our mock draft tracker for the New York Giants this week reflects the changing tone of chatter surrounding the 2025 NFL Draft. Quarterback is no longer the focus at No. 3 overall for the Giants.

This week’s tracker, including only mock draft conducted this month, includes 45 mock drafts. Tied at the top as the players most often selected are Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. Each player was chosen 17 times (37.8%).

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was chosen for the Giants in only six mock drafts (13.3%).

BBV’s Nick Falato on Thursday made the case for selecting Hunter over Carter if the Giants have a choice between the draft’s two best position players.

If Cam Ward and Hunter are off the board, our readers are in favor of selecting Carter at No. 3.

With the draft approaching, follow our New York Giants Draft Hub Page so you don’t miss anything. You will find news, analysis, opinions and Chris Pflum’s prospect profiles.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/4/...er-travis-hunter-abdul-carter-shedeur-sanders