New York Giants

While the New York Giants plan on holding a private workout with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders just a week before the 2025 NFL draft, one insider still isn't convinced that they're planning on selecting him with the No. 3 pick.

During Tuesday's episode of Get Up, ESPN's Jeff Darlington explained that most teams around the league do "their due diligence on quarterbacks," and this appears to be the case for the Giants as they meet with Sanders on Thursday.

"The Giants sitting at No. 3 certainly with that opportunity, and by the way, there's a reason why we've been talking about Shedeur Sanders so much this offseason. He comes with so much intrigue, so much to get to know, so much to understand about him, and I think that's part of the reason why the Giants are doing this. I personally would still be surprised, based on my conversations, if the Giants were to take him at No. 3 overall," Darlington said.

Per Justin Tasch of the New York Post, the Giants plan to send a team contingent to Boulder, Colorado, on Thursday to watch Sanders' workout. The team also had "a large group of decision-makers" at Colorado's pro day earlier this month to watch Sanders and Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter.

However, Darlington added that he's heard that the signing of veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston by the Giants this offseason "is so they have the flexibility to not have to draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall." B/R's NFL Scouting Department had a similar evaluation and predicted in its mock draft that New York would instead select Hunter, while Sanders would fall to the New Orleans Saints with the No. 9 pick.

"Sometimes, general managers will do this because they want to make sure that they should pass on a guy," Darlington added. "Like, the Giants might be sitting here saying, 'We're not taking Sanders at No. 3. Are we sure that is the right play?' So sometimes it's not about getting to know a guy so you take him, sometimes it's about getting to know a guy so you don't."

During his pre-draft visit with the New York Giants, Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter took to social media to create some buzz.

In a post on X, Carter shared a photo of a picture of Giants legend Lawrence Taylor presumably stationed outside of the team's outside linebackers meeting room:

Taylor is the greatest player in Giants history and among the most renowned defensive players in NFL history, creating a lofty standard for all who have come into the league after him.

Carter figures to be very much in play for the Giants when they go on the clock with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on April 24.

Last season, Carter was a dominant force at PSU, setting career highs with 68 tackles, 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss en route to being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Carter is in the conversation for being the best overall prospect in this year's draft along with Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

The BR NFL Scouting Department had Carter ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the draft behind only Hunter on its latest big board.

The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported last week that Hunter is the favorite to go second overall to the Browns, which would leave Carter for the Giants.

New York undoubtedly has a need at quarterback, but it signed a pair of veterans this offseason in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, which could be enough to allow the G-Men to pass on an offensive signal-caller in the first round.

If the Giants do indeed pass on taking a quarterback such as Colorado's Shedeur Sanders or Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, it is difficult to envision them doing anything other than taking Carter at No. 3.

A pass-rusher isn't necessarily the Giants' biggest need since they traded for two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns last offseason and selected Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, but Thibodeaux is about to enter the final year of his rookie contract if New York doesn't exercise his fifth-year option for 2026.

While the Giants tied for eighth in the NFL with 45 sacks last season, any boost to the pass-rush could help the team remain competitive while the offense experiences potential growing pains.

Taylor spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Giants, recording 142 sacks and earning 10 Pro Bowl nods, eight First Team All-Pro selections, three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two Super Bowl wins and one NFL MVP Award.

It would be almost impossible for Carter or any other player to live up to what LT accomplished during his Hall of Fame career, but sharing the photo of Taylor suggests that Carter aspires to reach that level.

NFL draft guru Todd McShay projected the New York Giants to make an aggressive play for a quarterback in his newest mock of the 2025 draft.

McShay had the Giants taking Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick and then trading up to No. 24 in order to select Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

"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," he said. "But it takes only one. And mock drafts aren't about my rankings; they're about the intel."

McShay pointed to the fact that Milroe received an invitation to sit in the green room on draft day. He posited how it could be a sign the Crimson Tide signal-caller is likely to be a first-round pick because "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."

Rodgers, Quinn and Levis all went later than expected, with Levis falling out of the first round altogether. It made for an agonizing viewing experience when the cameras showed them sitting with their families in the green room as the event unfolded.

As McShay pointed out, few have Milroe as a first-round talent. He's the No. 77 overall prospect and fifth-best quarterback on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board.

Milroe took a step backward as a senior, throwing for fewer touchdowns (16) and more interceptions (11) while averaging similar passing yards (218.8) compared to 2023. The dual-threat QB did run for 726 yards and 20 scores.

The Giants are heading into the draft after having signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to shore up their quarterback room. Because of that, the need to strengthen the position is a little less pressing.

Still, nobody expects Wilson or Winston to be a long-term solution, so it makes sense for New York to take the best player available (Carter in the case of McShay's mock) and then grab a quarterback later on.

One downside with trading up and then reaching for Milroe in the first round is that it would set artificially high expectations and put added pressure on both him and the team. That sort of defeats the purpose of waiting to draft a QB.

The New York Giants will bring Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter in for a formal visit Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter reported Carter spoke with Giants head coach Brian Daboll on Sunday in State College, Pennsylvania.

The 2024 All-American is widely considered one of the best players in the 2025 NFL draft class. He's the No. 2 overall prospect on Bleacher Report's big board behind Colorado's Travis Hunter.

Carter had 12 sacks and an FBS-high 24 tackles for loss as a junior. B/R NFL scout Matt Holder compared him to three-time All-Pro Von Miller, which is the kind of praise that speaks for itself.

The Giants have the third pick in the first round. Before free agency, Miami quarterback Cam Ward or Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders was probably the popular choice.

Now that New York has signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, quarterback looks to be a slightly less pressing concern. That gives general manager Joe Schoen more flexibility to prioritize value over positional need.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter the impression at Colorado's pro day was that "the Giants will either go Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, whichever one is available."

New York tied for eighth in sacks (45) last season, and Brian Burns has four more years left to run on his $141 million contract. All things being equal, an edge-rusher isn't something the team requires right now.

But Carter might be the best player available when the Giants are on the clock, and they're so far from playoff contention that they might as well prioritize talent above fit this high in the draft.

The New York Giants reportedly plan to take "the best player available" with the No. 3 pick of the 2025 NFL draft, which means multiple options could be on the table.

"Talking to people who were at Colorado's Pro Day on Friday, they believe that the Giants will either go Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, whichever one is available," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Sunday on SportsCenter. "They have been linked to Shedeur Sanders as well, they need the quarterback. So, those appear to be their options right now, but they look comfortable taking the best player available at No. 3."

The Giants did add Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason, which made quarterback less pressing of a position.

If the front office decides to pass on Sanders, it could still count on Wilson and Winston in the immediate future before potentially looking to draft a quarterback in 2026 or beyond. There isn't even a guarantee Sanders will be available at No. 2, as the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns both need signal-callers.

Tennessee could take Miami's Cam Ward at No. 1 before the Browns take Sanders at No. 2, which could give the Giants their choice between Carter and Hunter.

They would likely be happy with that scenario, although they could also end up in a position where they take whichever one of Carter and Hunter that Cleveland doesn't if the Browns choose between the pass-rusher and Heisman Trophy winner.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected Tennessee to take Ward, Cleveland to take Carter and New York to take Hunter in its most recent mock draft.

"New York can justify passing up on Sanders in favor of his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate," draft analyst Matt Holder said. "Hunter gives the Giants' defense another starting corner to replace Deonte Banks, who has struggled to begin his career, and a fourth pass-catcher to make an impact in offensive sub-packages alongside Malik Nabers."

The versatility to play on both sides of the ball is what makes Hunter so intriguing as a prospect, especially for teams like the Giants with multiple holes on the roster.

New York is coming off a 3-14 record and is more than just a quarterback away, so that could mean taking a difference-maker in Hunter at No. 3 as it looks to turn things around in the NFC East.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll was extremely effusive in his praise toward Travis Hunter with the team still evaluating their options for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Speaking to reporters at the NFL league meetings in Florida on Tuesday, Daboll described Hunter as a "remarkable" player for what he accomplished on offense and defense during his two seasons at Colorado.

"Well, it takes a long time to evaluate because there's a lot of tape," Daboll said. "It's really remarkable what he has done and the ability to perform at that level, not really getting rest. So he's been a fun player to evaluate and to meet and talk with. He's a heck of a player."

Daboll added that the Giants will "evaluate him at both" wide receiver and cornerback ahead of the NFL Draft.

The Giants have certainly given themselves options with their first selection. Their additions of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston at least suggest they don't feel pressured to take a quarterback in that spot.

Of course, the Wilson-Winston pairing could also be an indication the Giants are anticipating the Cleveland Browns are interested in Shedeur Sanders.

Even if Sanders is on the board at three, Daboll said the Giants are "in a position where we can take who we think is the best football player at that time."

While the answer to whom the Giants view as the best player won't come until they make their pick, it's hard not to envision a scenario where Hunter is at the top of their board.

New York's roster is in such a state that it needs as much high-ceiling talent as it can find. Hunter would arguably be the best wide receiver or cornerback prospect in this class if he only played one position.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Hunter ranked as the top overall player in the class, with cornerback listed as his primary position. Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon charted Hunter's receiving stats from 2024 as being elite or close to it across the board.

When you factor in Hunter's ability to play both spots at a high level, he could end up being the most impactful rookie regardless of position.

The Giants don't necessarily need a No. 1 receiver because Malik Nabers is on the roster, but Hunter would give them a high-end second option on that side of the ball.

Hunter would also be the most skilled cornerback on the Giants' roster, which currently boasts Paulson Adebo and Deonte Banks as their top two coverage guys.

After losing a franchise-record 14 games last season, the Giants should just prioritize adding their top player on the board. They can find a long-term quarterback solution later, but it's not often a potential generational talent comes along who could be available at No. 3 overall.

The New York Giants intend to take the "best football player" with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft in the words of general manager Joe Schoen.

"We're in a position where we can take who we think is the best football player at that time," Schoen told reporters. "... If it matches up, if the value is right, we can look at many positions and take a guy."

Leading up to the draft, many are wondering whether New York will take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders despite him arguably not being the top prospect who's likely to be available when the Giants are on the clock.

New York has added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason, so the front office and coaching staff could decide to stand pat at the quarterback position.

The combined presence of Wilson and Winston certainly shouldn't stop the Giants from picking Sanders because, as currently constructed,d they're left without a viable option for 2026 and beyond.

"There has been a sentiment the Giants are less likely to take a quarterback with the No. 3 pick after the signings of Wilson and Winston," The Athletic's Dan Duggan wrote Monday. "It's hard to understand why that conclusion has been drawn."

Taking Sanders would be a bit of a gamble, even within the context of no draft prospect ever being a sure thing.

The Buffs standout is the No. 18 overall player on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board.

"Overall, Sanders' natural and pure passing abilities are the strength of his game," B/R NFL scout Dame Parson wrote in his assessment of Sanders. "He is capable of winning from clean pockets and out of structure. Sanders will pick defenses apart with his quick release and accuracy. He is a high-floor prospect with a good enough ceiling to buy into. With his experience and the challenges he has faced, he is worth betting on."

Using a top-five pick on Sanders will be a reach when few have him ranked that highly, but sometimes reaching for a player is necessary when combining the talent and positional value.

For Schoen, the next few weeks are largely about answering where Sanders falls on that scale.

Quarterbacks could represent the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the NFL Draft for the third straight year.

The latest 2025 mock draft from NFL.com's Bucky Brooks projects the Cleveland Browns using the No. 2 pick to select Shedeur Sanders just after the Tennessee Titans draft Cam Ward.

Brooks writes that Kevin Stefanski could be a good fit with Sanders as a head coach who "has worked well with traditional pocket passers throughout his career."

Stefanski said during the NFL combine that the Browns were looking for a quarterback who excelled at decision-making and passing accuracy, which could make the franchise a potential match for Sanders and his FBS-leading 74.0 completion percentage last season.

The Browns head coach was complimentary of both Ward and Sanders after meeting with the quarterbacks during the combine. He called Sanders "a very, very impressive young man" who "was raised the right way."

“Obviously, he is a heck of a football player—that’s evident on tape—but I was really impressed with the person," Stefanski said in February.

Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot recently wrote that she doesn't believe the Browns will have a shot at Ward with the No. 2 pick and that the team "might even like Shedeur Sanders better for their organization."

The New York Giants, who recently stocked up their quarterback room with the veteran additions of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, are projected by Brooks to select cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter with the No. 3 pick.

The presence of 2024 No. 6 pick Malik Nabers in the Giants' wide receiver room means the team could potentially decide to try Hunter on both sides of the ball or have the luxury of starting him out as a full-time cornerback if they land the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

The Giants hold four picks in the top 100 of the upcoming draft. If general manager Joe Schoen decides to use the No. 3 pick on a position other than quarterback, the franchise could potentially target a signal caller on Day 2.

Signal callers ranked in a lower tier than Ward and Sanders on the latest B/R NFL Scouting Department 2025 NFL Draft Big Board, including Will Howard, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers, could potentially be available by the time the Giants get back on the clock at No. 34.

The New York Giants plan to "simply play the best player at the position" when deciding between Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston under center this season, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

"Wilson is the likely starter. But it might be Winston. It also might wind up being the third pick," Breer wrote Wednesday.

Breer noted that having both Wilson and Winston as options gives the Giants the opportunity to potentially draft outside the quarterback position with the No. 3 pick.

Because the Giants have four picks inside the top 100, general manager Joe Schoen could use a later pick on a lower-tier quarterback prospect. Breer named Jaxson Dart or Quinn Ewers as possible targets.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the Giants had agreed to a one-year deal with Wilson worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed.

The Giants had previously added Winston on a two-year, $8 million deal, as reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero last Friday.

Before those signings, the franchise had Tommy DeVito as the only quarterback under contract.

The Giants previously took swings at other veteran quarterbacks, including Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers. Schoen was willing to offer Stafford around $50 million per year before he re-signed with the Los Angeles Rams, and the Giants had "standing offers" out to Rodgers as of last week, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan.

Wilson, who missed the beginning of his lone campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a calf injury, ultimately took over the starting position from Justin Fields and started the last 11 games of the 2024 season.

Winston similarly became a midseason QB1 after stepping up for an injured Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns last season, starting seven straight games before he was sidelined for the last three weeks of the regular season with a shoulder injury.

If the QB1 decision does come down to training camp, any midseason struggles could then prompt a switch to the other veteran quarterback or a potential rookie. The Giants will hope even that would provide more stability than former franchise signal caller Daniel Jones.

The Giants' long-term plans regarding the post-Jones outlook of the team's quarterback room will become clearer when the 2025 NFL draft kicks off on April 24 in Green Bay. New York currently holds eight picks, including the No. 3, No. 34, No. 65, No. 99 and No. 105 selections.

Jameis Winston may not be the only free-agent quarterback the New York Giants bring in this offseason.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 8:20 mark), The Athletic's Dianna Russini said the Giants will be "poking around" the veteran market for another quarterback.

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported on Friday that Winston agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with New York.

The Giants haven't given up on their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported on Monday they are "still waiting" for the four-time MVP to make a decision.

Rodgers' focus seems to be more on the Pittsburgh Steelers at the moment. He had a meeting with team officials last week, but left their facilities without signing a deal.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer noted Steelers officials seemed to think Rodgers would also have a similar meeting with the Giants at some point in an effort to "to get a vibe for their building, and what head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen have built."

There's no indication at this point that Rodgers is close to making a decision. While the Giants continue to wait for him, they have also been keeping an eye on Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco as potential options.

The Giants could in theory come out of free agency and the draft with three quarterbacks. Tommy DeVito was the only signal-caller on their roster before they agreed to a deal with Winston.

DeVito is only set to earn $1 million in 2025, so it wouldn't be difficult to move on if they found better depth.

There's also the possibility the Giants try to add Shedeur Sanders with the third pick in the draft, but there's growing buzz he could end up going to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall.

Whatever the quarterback room looks like in Week 1 of the regular season, the Giants had to prioritize the position this offseason. They may not end up with a franchise player at that spot, but it should look better than the group that ended last season with DeVito and Drew Lock starting games after Daniel Jones was released.