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The New York Giants had a banner night on Thursday at the 2025 NFL Draft, perhaps their best night in decades.
General manager Joe Schoen, whose tenure began with two rocky drafts, is following up on his strong 2024 performance with a 1-2 combination that has simply knocked Giant fans out. In fact, he may have hit two grand slams in the same inning.
Here's our report card for the New York Football Giants 2025 draft class:
The cardinal rule for drafting this high in the order is to take what the football gods give you. Schoen did just that by selecting the best available player on the board in Abdul Carter. The Nittany Lion linebacker is a force to be reckoned with and will add to an already formidable front seven for Big Blue.
Don't listen to the critics here. This is a great pick for the Giants. The detractors and naysayers are bashing it out of fear. They know that this is a franchise-defining pick.
Grade: A+
For years now, the football world has said the Giants need to solve their quarterback issues. In just five weeks, Schoen has done just that for both the short- and long-term.
The selection of Jaxson Dart is a master stroke by the Giants. First, he checks all the required boxes (i.e. physical traits. character, poise etc.). Second, he won't have to play right away and third, Schoen didn't have to break the bank to get him.
Forget about what Dart has laid down on film or his statistics. He will go to the Brian Daboll School of Quarterbacking for the next year and likely come out a more refined product. This could not have worked out better.
Grade: A
The Giants' defensive front is one of the league's better groups, but that is because of one man: Dexter Lawrence II. When he is off the field or out of the lineup, the Giants' front becomes vulnerable. They needed depth. Darius Alexander is for sure a need pick and will likely see plenty of action despite having a glut of competition from the many veterans Schoen has been amassing at the position. But he is also a quality add. Coming from a smaller program and not being highly touted after a six-year college career, Alexander showed up the the Senior Bowl (the Giants' favorite recruiting ground) and dominated many of the Big 5 talent he was pitted against.
That didn't get past Schoen and his staff. They had Alexander in for a Top 30 visit this month and that sealed the deal. His penchant for making plays behind the line of scrimmage was also a selling point as was his durability and stamina. He won't have to play the entire game with Big Blue, which will make his reduced snaps even more productive.
They made the best of what the had left after the trade-up for Dart on Thursday. It was hard to watch all of that talent flow past them before and after the Alexander selection.
Grade: B+
The Giants were searching for a tough inside runner to add to their backfield this offseason and may have hit the jackpot with Cameron Skattebo, a battering ram who can also make plays in space.
The Heisman Trophy hopeful and First-Team All-Big 12 selection is a versatile, tough, tackle-breaking ball carrier that can be used on all three downs. This pick could not have gone better for the Giants. He will energize this offense, which has needed a spark for two seasons now.
Grade: A+
Marcus Mbow was on the Giants' radar for a while and somehow slipped the fifth round after alleged concerns of a negative medical report was circulated. Schoen debunked the rumor and was more than happy to snatch up a player who can play anywhere along the line and revels in knocking opponents to the ground. Many mock drafts had Mbow as a Day 2 pick, so this is another huge value pick for the Giants.
Grade: A+
Thomas Fidone was once rated the top tight end recruit in his class, ahead of the all-world Brock Bowers, but knee injuries knocked him back several pegs early in his college career. He has slowly been regaining his form.
Fidone is a fine receiver but needs to work on his blocking if he is to stay on the field in the NFL. He's joining a deep tight end room here with the Giants and will have an uphill battle making the final 53-man roster. Then again, he could revert to his pedigree and become a top player at his position.
Grade: B
The Giants need depth at corner and can always use speed on special teams. Korie Black has 4.3 speed and is advertised as a press corner. He has the physical attributes, size and speed, that coaches can work with. He's a great find in the final round of the draft and should compete for a roster spot right away.
Grade: A
The Giants are fortunate that John Mara decided to stick with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll this offseason, proving the best moves are sometimes the ones you don't make.
Schoen had a great draft last year but his performance on Thursday night just might go down as one of the most memorable in team history.
Imagine landing Lawrence Taylor and Eli Manning in the same night. Of course, I'm exaggerating if not projecting, but it sure felt like this was the Giants' turn at the troth, to finally return to relevance after a decade of futility.
The rest of the draft was almost just as impressive. Schoen stuck to his guns and took the players he knew and ones that can help the culture and the vision of the team. Like last year's class, this group should make an impact in Year 1.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Grading every Giants pick in the 2025 NFL draft
Continue reading...
General manager Joe Schoen, whose tenure began with two rocky drafts, is following up on his strong 2024 performance with a 1-2 combination that has simply knocked Giant fans out. In fact, he may have hit two grand slams in the same inning.
Here's our report card for the New York Football Giants 2025 draft class:
Round 1, Pick 3: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The cardinal rule for drafting this high in the order is to take what the football gods give you. Schoen did just that by selecting the best available player on the board in Abdul Carter. The Nittany Lion linebacker is a force to be reckoned with and will add to an already formidable front seven for Big Blue.
Don't listen to the critics here. This is a great pick for the Giants. The detractors and naysayers are bashing it out of fear. They know that this is a franchise-defining pick.
Grade: A+
Round 1, Pick 25: Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
For years now, the football world has said the Giants need to solve their quarterback issues. In just five weeks, Schoen has done just that for both the short- and long-term.
The selection of Jaxson Dart is a master stroke by the Giants. First, he checks all the required boxes (i.e. physical traits. character, poise etc.). Second, he won't have to play right away and third, Schoen didn't have to break the bank to get him.
Forget about what Dart has laid down on film or his statistics. He will go to the Brian Daboll School of Quarterbacking for the next year and likely come out a more refined product. This could not have worked out better.
Grade: A
Round 2, Pick 65: Darius Alexander, DI, Toledo
The Giants' defensive front is one of the league's better groups, but that is because of one man: Dexter Lawrence II. When he is off the field or out of the lineup, the Giants' front becomes vulnerable. They needed depth. Darius Alexander is for sure a need pick and will likely see plenty of action despite having a glut of competition from the many veterans Schoen has been amassing at the position. But he is also a quality add. Coming from a smaller program and not being highly touted after a six-year college career, Alexander showed up the the Senior Bowl (the Giants' favorite recruiting ground) and dominated many of the Big 5 talent he was pitted against.
That didn't get past Schoen and his staff. They had Alexander in for a Top 30 visit this month and that sealed the deal. His penchant for making plays behind the line of scrimmage was also a selling point as was his durability and stamina. He won't have to play the entire game with Big Blue, which will make his reduced snaps even more productive.
They made the best of what the had left after the trade-up for Dart on Thursday. It was hard to watch all of that talent flow past them before and after the Alexander selection.
Grade: B+
Round 4, Pick 105: Cameron Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
The Giants were searching for a tough inside runner to add to their backfield this offseason and may have hit the jackpot with Cameron Skattebo, a battering ram who can also make plays in space.
The Heisman Trophy hopeful and First-Team All-Big 12 selection is a versatile, tough, tackle-breaking ball carrier that can be used on all three downs. This pick could not have gone better for the Giants. He will energize this offense, which has needed a spark for two seasons now.
Grade: A+
Round 5, Pick 154: Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
Marcus Mbow was on the Giants' radar for a while and somehow slipped the fifth round after alleged concerns of a negative medical report was circulated. Schoen debunked the rumor and was more than happy to snatch up a player who can play anywhere along the line and revels in knocking opponents to the ground. Many mock drafts had Mbow as a Day 2 pick, so this is another huge value pick for the Giants.
Grade: A+
Round 7, Pick 219: Thomas Fidone, TE, Nebraska
Thomas Fidone was once rated the top tight end recruit in his class, ahead of the all-world Brock Bowers, but knee injuries knocked him back several pegs early in his college career. He has slowly been regaining his form.
Fidone is a fine receiver but needs to work on his blocking if he is to stay on the field in the NFL. He's joining a deep tight end room here with the Giants and will have an uphill battle making the final 53-man roster. Then again, he could revert to his pedigree and become a top player at his position.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 246: Korie Black CB Oklahoma State
The Giants need depth at corner and can always use speed on special teams. Korie Black has 4.3 speed and is advertised as a press corner. He has the physical attributes, size and speed, that coaches can work with. He's a great find in the final round of the draft and should compete for a roster spot right away.
Grade: A
Overall Grade: A
The Giants are fortunate that John Mara decided to stick with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll this offseason, proving the best moves are sometimes the ones you don't make.
Schoen had a great draft last year but his performance on Thursday night just might go down as one of the most memorable in team history.
Imagine landing Lawrence Taylor and Eli Manning in the same night. Of course, I'm exaggerating if not projecting, but it sure felt like this was the Giants' turn at the troth, to finally return to relevance after a decade of futility.
The rest of the draft was almost just as impressive. Schoen stuck to his guns and took the players he knew and ones that can help the culture and the vision of the team. Like last year's class, this group should make an impact in Year 1.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Grading every Giants pick in the 2025 NFL draft
Continue reading...
