Breaking down New York Giants' picks in Dane Brugler's 7-round mock draft

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The New York Giants select third overall in the 2025 NFL draft and then have seven additional picks after that. What they do in Round 1 is an easy projection based on circumstance, but how they approach the remainder of the draft is anyone's guess.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic decided to give things a shot with a full seven-round mock draft, including all eight of the Giants' picks.

Below is a look at Brugler's selection and a little additional commentary on behalf of Giants Wire.

Round 1, Pick 3: Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter​

Cam Ward and Travis Hunter are off the board, leaving the Giants with a decision: Quarterback Shedeur Sanders or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter? Brugler makes the right choice and it's believed the Giants will, too.

Like Cleveland, the Giants are looking for the “right” quarterback — but with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster, they also don’t need to force anything. Pass rusher might not be a screaming need, but you draft players not positions in the top three, and Carter is a true impact player.

Round 2, Pick 34: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe​

After Ward at No. 1 overall, Sanders slips all the way down to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 overall. Jaxson Dart goes to the Cleveland Browns with the first pick in the second round, leaving the Giants to snatch up Jalen Milroe at No. 34 overall. It seems unlikely Milroe slips this far given that quarterbacks are often overdrafted, but in Brugler's scenario, the Giants get their developmental QB of the future.

As I reported last week, Milroe has accepted his invitation to the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, creating even more intrigue about when he will hear his name called. I like this fit for both sides — a young, dynamic quarterback for the Giants to develop, and a landing spot for Milroe where he won’t be thrust onto the field before he’s ready.

Round 3, Pick 65: Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson​

The Giants have spent a significant amount of time meeting with running backs from this class and it seems inevitable they add one to pair with Tyrone Tracy Jr. In this case, it comes via Iowa's Kalen Johnson with the first pick in Round 3. Maybe that's a bit rich for the Giants given their other needs, but it would be a fit for various reasons (style, familiarity with coaches).

Johnson spent time with the Giants on a top-30 visit earlier this month and would pair nicely with Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the backfield. It also would be a fun reunion for Johnson with Giants running backs coach Ladell Betts, his position coach for the Hawkeyes the past three seasons.

Round 3, Pick 99: Oregon DT Jamaree Caldwell​

The Giants are going to add a defensive tackle in the draft. You can take that statement to the bank -- it's an easy bet. In Brugler's projection, that ends up being Oregon's Jamaree Caldwell, a 6-foot-2, 332-pound true nose tackle. He would serve as a backup to Dexter Lawrence and could also rotate in at other defensive line positions.

Round 4, Pick 105: Miami OL Jalen Rivers​

Miami's Jalen Rivers is a massive (6-foot-6, 319 pounds) offensive tackle who has enough talent and athleticism to develop into a starter one day. However, he'll enter the NFL with some issues that make him a liability against top-end pass rushers, meaning the Giants would have to stash him on the bench and put in work before trusting him at right tackle.

Round 5, Pick 154: Georgia WR Arian Smith​

Several NFL draft analysts view Georgia's Arian Smith as a seventh-round pick or priority undrafted free agent, so the Giants would make quite a reach if Brugler's scenario played out. However, he's blazing fast with a 4.36 40-yard dash time and would add to the team's overall speed. However, he may be better suited in a special teams or return role given that his hands are unreliable.

Round 7, Pick 219: Iowa LB Jay Higgins​

Giants general manager Joe Schoen essentially acknowledged the team would target a linebacker at some point in the draft and Iowa's Jay Higgins has been a name repeatedly mocked to Big Blue. He's a well-decorated, highly-productive team captain who would be a welcomed addition to any NFL locker room. He lacks the elite athleticism to make him an impact starter but could serve in a rotational role while serving as a special teams asset.

Round 7, Pick 246: Oregon OL Ajani Cornelius​

The Giants double-down on developmental tackles with Oregon's Ajani Cornelius. Like Rivers, his flaws likely make him a liability at the NFL level but with the right coaching, he could become a servicible swing tackle. With such a late pick, it would be a worthy gamble for Schoen and the Giants.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Breaking down Giants' picks in Dane Brugler's 7-round mock draft

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