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New York Times
03-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Giants big board 2.0: 20 targets at need positions for first 2 days of NFL Draft
It's almost here. The 2025 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away. Though teams won't be on the clock until April 24, major decisions are being made right now, as franchises attend pro days, schedule top-30 visits and adjust their big boards. Speaking of which, it's time for us to put together another Giants-centric big board. After zeroing in on Day 1 of the draft last time, we're going to focus on days 1 and 2. As a reminder, the Giants have one first-round selection along with three Day 2 picks: To guide us, we used The Athletic's latest consensus big board and paired that with some of the Giants' biggest remaining positions of need to zero in on potential Day 1 and Day 2 targets. Let's get to it. Cam Ward, No. 13 on consensus big board Miami, 6 foot 2, 223 pounds Let's get this out of the way: Though the Giants signed Russell Wilson (one year, $10.5 million guaranteed) and Jameis Winston (two years, $8 million), that shouldn't change anything about their draft plans. While it feels like Wilson will end up the Week 1 starter, he is not the franchise's long-term solution, and his contract reflects that. Winston is just a quality backup. Together, it's a good plan for a Giants team that entered the offseason without many great options, but the draft still must be the focal point. And there's no better quarterback available in the draft than Ward … which is why he probably won't be available to the Giants at No. 3. Advertisement Ward completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns against seven interceptions last season. Through various collegiate stops in very different offenses, Ward has displayed consistent growth. That adaptability Ward has shown throughout his career is encouraging. Now, can the Giants trade up for Ward or hope he falls to No. 3? That seems unlikely with the Tennessee Titans giving all indications they're going to take him at No. 1 — they sent a massive contingent to Ward's pro day and haven't really delved into the veteran QB market. Maybe it's a smokescreen, but it feels unlikely the Giants wind up with Ward. And that brings us to … Shedeur Sanders, No. 33 Colorado, 6-1, 198 pounds Sanders is a fascinating option because of how divisive he seems to be. Some draft analysts really like him, others not so much. Just how much his famous father, Deion Sanders, has to do with that is unclear. Regardless, most seem to believe he is the No. 2 QB in the draft behind Ward. But the question in New York is: How would Sanders fit under the city's bright lights? We might soon find out. Giants general manager Joe Schoen previously highlighted the pluses of having a dad who is a football coach, so the younger Sanders' football acumen isn't up for debate inside the Giants building. Meanwhile, The Athletic's draft expert Dane Brugler has highlighted Sanders' ball placement and toughness as strengths but suggested his average physical traits will limit his ceiling. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, No. 57 Ole Miss, 6-2, 226 pounds Things get complicated with the later-round QBs because of the overall need for the position. For example, could a prospect such as Dart get pushed up into Round 1 because of how few top-tier QBs there are in this draft? If the Giants did target Dart on Day 2 (or the end of Day 1), a major plus would be that he could sit and learn behind two longtime NFL veterans before being thrust into the spotlight. That's big for any young QB but especially for a player such as Dart, who played in a college offense that doesn't have a lot in common with what he'll be asked to do in the NFL. Advertisement Still, there's reason to like Dart's upside. Brugler has written that Dart is a 'natural thrower of the football with promising mobility and high-level competitive intangibles.' Those are the kinds of traits any team would welcome into their QB room. Jalen Milroe, No. 79 Alabama, 6-1, 225 pounds Milroe has had an inconsistent offseason, which seems to have impacted his standing as a prospect and where he might get picked. When things are clicking for Milroe, he has drawn comparisons to Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. Like Hurts, Milroe is a strong runner who has good arm strength and a knack for creating explosive plays, which should appeal to a Giants offense that has struggled in that department. Last season, Milroe tallied 20 rushing touchdowns, 12 of which came from 10-plus yards away. In New York, having the opportunity to start his career on the bench would be extremely beneficial for Milroe, who will need time to adjust to the pro game and work on improving his consistency as a passer. Tyler Shough, No. 82 Louisville, 6-5, 224 pounds Schoen and offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka were at Louisville's pro day to get an up-close look at one of the oldest prospects in the class. Shough will be 25 years old during draft weekend. There's also a lengthy medical history to consider for the prospect who, before his 12 games last year, had never played in more than seven in seven collegiate seasons. Still, with an impressive arm and football IQ, Shough may go higher than many people expect. For many teams, it will all depend on if they're comfortable with his age and medical history. Armand Membou, No. 8 Missouri, 6-4, 332 pounds The Giants didn't make any major offensive line free-agent additions, instead being content to bring the band back together. While they reportedly pursued top guard Will Fries, he opted to go to Minnesota, and the Giants instead re-signed 35-year-old Greg Van Roten. So, a guard (or really any offensive line piece) isn't out of the question in the first round — if the Giants trade back. On Membou, Brugler noted that some teams like him inside, but he's likely to be the top tackle taken later this month. The Giants really don't need to worry about immediate fit so much as adding someone with his all-around skill set to their offensive line. Perhaps he could play guard in 2025 before kicking out to right tackle, where he made 29 starts at Missouri, if the Giants let Jermaine Eluemunor walk in free agency next offseason. It bears repeating, the Giants probably consider Membou only if they trade back from No. 3. That seems unlikely, but we wanted to account for the possibility. However, if the Giants really want to beef up their offensive line, it's more realistic to look at the Day 2 targets. Advertisement Donovan Jackson, No. 35 Ohio State, 6-4, 320 pounds Jackson started 26 straight games through two seasons at left guard and then continued playing the position to start 2024. But after Buckeyes teammate Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending injury, Jackson moved to left tackle the rest of the season and acquitted himself well. So, he's a prospect with proven positional flexibility and has forced scouts to re-evaluate his best fit. Again, the Giants shouldn't be too concerned about best fit. Simply adding talented young linemen to their room should be the priority. But in terms of the depth chart, the Giants have a left guard in Jon Runyan Jr., who's signed through 2026, and a stalwart left tackle in Andrew Thomas. But Thomas has suffered injuries the last two seasons, which have derailed the offense. Perhaps the Giants could draft Jackson, in part, as Thomas insurance while allowing Jackson to find his best fit with the team during training camp. Marcus Mbow, No. 61 Purdue, 6-4, 309 pounds Another prospect whose best position remains TBD. According to Brugler, some teams want to keep him at tackle, while others view him best as a guard or even center. Brugler has him as a guard. Mbow started 32 games as a right guard and tackle over his collegiate tenure, including 12 games at right tackle last year. Again, the Giants' future on the right side of the line is far from certain with Van Roten, Eluemunor and Evan Neal (assuming New York declines his fifth-year option) all slated to be free agents after this season. Jonah Savaiinaea, No. 69 Arizona, 6-4, 339 pounds Savaiinaea exclusively played tackle (left and right) during his final college season, but Brugler believes his traits are best suited for a return to guard, which he primarily played his first two seasons. As Brugler notes, his 'bear-claw' hands and 'square play style' could help him develop into a quality NFL starter. Again, putting a young, talented player in the pipeline behind Van Roten makes a lot of sense. Tate Ratledge, No. 83 Georgia, 6-6, 320 pounds Brugler has written that the guard has the necessary tools for a decade-long pro career, if he stays healthy. Ratledge is also a 'self-described 'dirtbag,'' so that personality should add some fun to the position room. Ratledge could compete with Van Roten as a rookie and become the Giants' succession plan at the position. Mason Graham, No. 4 Michigan, 6-3, 320 pounds The Giants invested in veteran defensive line depth by signing Roy Robertson-Harris and Jeremiah Ledbetter. Those investments were desperately needed, as injuries exposed the team's lack of depth behind Dexter Lawrence last season. Still, neither veteran addition is a top talent. Graham most certainly is. Again, this probably only makes sense for New York if it trades back from No. 3, but Brugler sees Graham as an 'explosive and relentless lineman' who 'naturally plays from a low position to consistently win leverage through contact and lean on his agility to chase the football.' Lining him up next to Lawrence could give the Giants a fearsome front. The two-time All-American led Michigan linemen with 45 tackles, including seven for loss with 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries along with a blocked kick last year. One negative on Graham is he has shorter arms, but a wrestling background is credited with helping him understand angles in confined spaces. Advertisement Walter Nolen, No. 21 Ole Miss, 6-3, 300 pounds While it's unlikely Nolen drops to the early second round for the Giants, he also could make a great pairing with Lawrence as a projected 3-technique player. Nolen recorded 48 total tackles (25 solo), including 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Brugler noted that Nolen creates 'immediate force and can be a play-wrecker because of how quickly he penetrates gaps.' Derrick Harmon, No. 27 Oregon, 6-5, 310 pounds Harmon tallied 27 solo tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles for the Ducks last season. He's a creative player who can win in multiple ways, according to Brugler, who also called Harmon one of the nation's most disruptive interior defensive linemen last season. That's exactly the kind of player the Giants need to add to their defensive line. While Brugler noted that Harmon must become a more consistent finisher, that polish could come while playing alongside Lawrence and learning from respected coach Andre Patterson. Tyleik Williams, No. 40 Ohio State, 6-2, 322 pounds Williams gave observers a scare when he fell while running the 40-yard dash during his pro day, but Williams later tweeted that he was OK and didn't suffer a serious injury. That's good news for the prospect and potential suitors. Brugler noted that while Williams needs 'further development as a pass rusher, he is one of this class' best run-defending linemen because of his recognition skills and disciplined execution deconstructing blocks.' That would be a welcome addition to the Giants, whose run defense was putrid in 2024, allowing 2,316 yards, sixth most in the league. Shemar Turner, No. 62 Texas A&M, 6-4, 300 pounds Turner tallied 20 solo tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble last season for the Aggies. Per Brugler, Turner relies on 'his initial twitch, fierce hands and combative mentality to be a factor.' His tendencies draw attention from officials, so he will need to 'introduce more discipline to his play style,' Brugler said. Working with Patterson could be beneficial to get a player who could become a good 3-technique starter for the Giants. Alfred Collins, No. 53 Texas, 6-5, 320 pounds Collins was initially seen as a 'underachiever' while playing behind T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy III, but he shined once he got the opportunity to play more consistently. 'With his natural size, power and coordination, he does a great job as a two-gapper, stacking, peeking and grounding ball carriers between the tackles,' Brugler said. Again, the Giants need helping stuffing the run, and Collins could help them do it. Abdul Carter, No. 1 Penn State, 6-3, 250 pounds The Giants reportedly met with Carter after his pro day, and if they either miss out on a QB or decide not to draft one at No. 3, he'd be a tantalizing option for them. He's widely considered the No. 1 or No. 2 player in this year's class. That's largely due to his explosiveness, which helped him earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors as he tallied 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss in 16 games. While the Giants have made major investments at pass rusher, using a first-round pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2022 and then trading for Brian Burns last offseason, adding Carter would create a fearsome rotation. Travis Hunter, No. 2 Colorado, 6-0, 181 pounds The Heisman Trophy winner looks to be a once-in-a-generation prospect who could be an NFL star at both cornerback and wide receiver, which is what he was in college. What position he'll primarily play in the NFL remains an open question, but my colleague Dan Duggan has heard the Giants view him more as a cornerback. Would Hunter play just one position in New York? The Giants invested in a veteran CB, Paulson Adebo, in free agency, and while Tae Banks struggled in the No. 1 corner role last year, he was still a first-round selection in 2023. At receiver, the Giants prioritized the position in last year's draft, selecting Malik Nabers, and he's already shaping up to be a star. They also re-signed Darius Slayton and have Wan'Dale Robinson in the slot, so they don't need a receiver. But if a talent such as Hunter is available, well, he might be too good to pass up. Advertisement Jalen Royals, No. 72 Utah State, 5-11, 210 pounds We'll throw a Day 2 option here on the off chance the Giants want to keep adding to the room despite the resources invested into the position the past few years. Beyond the No. 6 spent on Nabers last year, they've selected Robinson with the No. 43 pick in 2022 and Jalin Hyatt with the No. 73 pick in 2023. Royals showed improvement in his route running at Senior Bowl practices, according to Brugler, an encouraging sign that he hasn't hit his ceiling yet. Dylan Sampson, No. 67 Tennessee, 5-11, 201 pounds The Giants' fifth-round investment last year in Tyrone Tracy Jr. looked smart with the rookie delivering a strong debut season. The hope is that Tracy will take another step, but that's no guarantee. Devin Singletary is a solid veteran, but another rookie could keep building out the room. If Sampson falls this far, the Giants could pounce. As Brugler notes, Sampson runs with 'urgent speed getting through the first wave and opens up the field with his sharp lateral cuts.' The Giants have bigger needs to be filled, but it's a strong RB class, and this is where having the compensatory pick could be helpful if the Giants want to roll the dice on one. (Photo of Cam Ward: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
New York Times
27-01-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Giants at the Senior Bowl: Who are the QBs to watch? Which NY coaches will be there?
The New York Giants have been scouting prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft for a while, but with college all-star game season upon us, they're getting a closer look at some of the country's top players. While the spotlight will be on Mobile, Ala., and the Senior Bowl this week, the process started last week at Texas' East-West Shrine Bowl, as Giants coach Brian Daboll, general manager Joe Schoen and assistant GM Brandon Brown were among those in attendance watching a collection of college football's best players perform. However, one player not participating in drills or practices had the Giants fan base in a tizzy over the weekend. Advertisement Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a projected first-round pick, was in attendance, and videos of him chatting with Giants brass spread across social media. According to an ESPN report, Daboll spent 'significant time' with Sanders on Friday. With the Giants in desperate need of a QB, Sanders could be an option for the Giants, who currently own the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft. Giants HC Brian Daboll dapping up Shedeur Sanders at the Shrine Bowl 👀 — DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) January 25, 2025 Of course, the Giants will have plenty of options — both at No. 3 and throughout the rest of the draft. That's what these weeks and the coming months are all about, zeroing in on the players the Giants want to add to their roster this April. Historically, the Senior Bowl has been a fertile scouting ground for Schoen. During his previous tenure as the Buffalo Bills assistant general manager from 2017 through 2021, the Bills selected 14 Senior Bowl participants in the NFL Draft. That trend has continued with the Giants, as seven of his selections over the past three drafts have participated in the Senior Bowl. In 2022, it was cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, tight end Daniel Bellinger and linebacker Darrian Beavers. In 2023, it was center John Michael Schmitz and running back Eric Gray. Last year, the group included third-round cornerback Dru Phillips and fourth-round tight end Theo Johnson. Senior Bowl practices begin Tuesday in Mobile. Here's a Giants-centric primer to get you ready for the week. The Giants will not only be in town to scout, but some of their coaching staff will be getting an up-close look at the prospects as members of the Senior Bowl coaching staff. Giants assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who was in New Orleans on Saturday to interview with the Saints for their head coach job, will serve as the head coach for the National Team. This is the second head-coaching opportunity for Kafka in as many years. He served as a head coach at the Shrine Bowl last year. Advertisement Giants running backs coach Joel Thomas will serve as the offensive coordinator for the American Team at the Senior Bowl. Assistant secondary coach Mike Adams will work with the Colts' Brent Jackson as the American Team's defensive backs coach. Adams served as a specials teams coordinator at the Senior Bowl last year. The American Team offensive line will be coached by Giants assistant line coach James Ferentz and the Saints' Jahri Evans. Ferentz coached offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl last season, as well. Finally, the American Team tight ends will be coached by Giants offensive assistant Angela Baker. Baker coached tight ends at the Shrine Bowl last year. Like last year, the Senior Bowl is using its 'Coach Up' format. This elevates assistant coaches and coordinators into different roles than their current jobs. GMs and head coaches of all non-playoff teams and teams eliminated in the wild-card round had the chance to nominate staff. While the Giants have many needs across their roster, there's no more glaring hole than at quarterback, so that's where we're going to focus our attention. Unfortunately, the consensus top two prospects, Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward are not scheduled to be in Mobile this week. That puts the onus on potential later-round prospects, whom the Giants may very well consider. With two potentially QB-needy teams picking ahead of them at No. 1 (Tennessee Titans) and No. 2 (Cleveland Browns), they may have to. Seven quarterbacks have accepted invites to the Senior Bowl and will be in attendance this week. Let's take a look at who they are, relying on the analysis of The Athletic's draft experts, Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner: Jalen Milroe, Alabama According to Brugler, Milroe is the highest-rated QB in Mobile. It's easy to see why with Brugler's comparison to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (a former Senior Bowl participant himself). Advertisement 'Milroe has a unique package of skills with his size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds), 4.3 speed, outstanding arm strength and strong mental makeup,' Brugler wrote. 'Consistent ball placement is not a strength of his game right now, but if a team leans into his style, Milroe could be a dangerous playmaker.' After four years at Alabama, Milroe is coming off a 9-4 season that ended with a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Over his two years as the starter, Milroe completed 392-of-603 passes (65 percent) with 39 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He is a weapon as a runner, as he amassed 1,577 rushing yards and 33 career rushing touchdowns. In his latest mock draft, Brugler paired Milroe with the Giants in the second round. He could make an intriguing developmental quarterback should the Giants pass on the position in the first round. Riley Leonard, Notre Dame After three seasons at Duke, Riley landed at Notre Dame and led the Fighting Irish to a 14-2 record and a loss to the Buckeyes in the national championship game this past season. Leonard finished the season with a 66.7 completion rate, totaling 2,861 yards, 21 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He will still generate draft buzz though. Before the title game, Brugler anticipated the 6-foot-4, 216-pound QB to be considered somewhere in the third-to-fourth-round range. 'Leonard's consistency as a deep passer hasn't been there, but the Irish also don't ask too much of him down the field. NFL teams love Leonard as an athlete and person, though, and he has shown enough tools as a passer to have a decent chance at (being picked on) Day 2.' Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss After one season at USC, Dart landed at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Dart already has a connection to the Giants, thanks to attending Eli Manning's alma mater. The former Giants QB is familiar with Dart and likes what he's seen. Advertisement 'I've been around him,' Manning said last week. 'He's been a great kid, been in the same offense for three years and been successful. You've seen him grow and progress. He seems to be able to make all the throws.' Dart recently surpassed Manning's mark for most career passing yards in Ole Miss history. He finished with 10,617 yards to Manning's 10,119. This season, Dart completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 495 yards on 124 carries, as he led the Rebels to a 10-3 season. Baumgardner recently noted it's important to keep context in mind with Dart's numbers because of Ole Miss' scheme. 'He will have to show scouts an ability to operate from a pocket for longer than one read and that he can process more of a pro-style operation,' Baumgardner said. 'There is a lot to like, though, as he's 225 pounds with good feet and the ability to run a bit. He's always been very aggressive, throws an accurate ball and isn't afraid to work the middle of the field. I don't know if he's a full-time NFL starter, though I wouldn't rule it out either.' Seth Henigan, Memphis Henigan started all four years he spent at Memphis, going 34-16 as a starter, including an 11-2 mark his senior season. Henigan completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,502 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions on the season. For his career, he totaled 14,278 passing yards, putting him at No. 13 in FBS history. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect hasn't received as much buzz as others on this list, so we'll see if he can make more of a name for himself in Mobile this week. Remember, Kafka is the National team head coach and will get a close look at these players: Tyler Shough, Louisville Shough has had an interesting career already, as a 25-year-old prospect who started at Oregon in 2018. From there, he headed to Texas Tech for three injury-filled years before playing at Louisville this past season. There, Shough completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. He led the Cardinals to a 9-4 record. Advertisement Here's what Baumgardner had to say about Shough: 'This past year with Jeff Brohm at Louisville was his first as a full-time starter, and there were serious flashes of a 6-foot-5, 240-pound athlete with enough wheels to run and a big-time arm with real explosion off his hand. He will be one of the more scouted prospects at the Senior Bowl.' Taylor Elgersma, Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks Elgersma is probably one of the most intriguing QBs on this list because of his international status. He'll be the first player from a Canadian university to attend the Senior Bowl since 2017. The 6-foot-6, 212-pound prospect is a two-time Ontario University Athletics MVP and won this year's Hec Crighton Trophy, a prestigious honor. This season, he tallied over 4,000 passing yards and had 35 passing touchdowns. The quarterback has already attended the College Gridiron Showcase and the Tropical Stardom Scrimmage. In Mobile, it will be fascinating to see how Elgersma handles the jump to another level of American football and how scouts view his potential. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Gabriel played for UCF and Oklahoma before heading to Oregon for his final season. This season, Gabriel completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. He led the Ducks to a 13-1 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff where they lost in the Rose Bowl to eventual champion Ohio State. Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist but is not projected to be a first-rounder largely because he's undersized (5-10, 200) by NFL standards. But don't count out Gabriel completely. 'He has the football-playing instincts to overcome his diminutive size, and his arm and mobility are good enough for the next level,' Brugler wrote recently. 'I'm not saying Gabriel will be a first-round pick … (but) he is a better NFL prospect than Stetson Bennett, who was drafted in Round 4 in 2023. Gabriel is innately confident and obsessed with winning — two qualities that will help him connect with NFL coaches throughout the process.' Advertisement Bonus: Will Howard, Ohio State Unfortunately, Howard is among several Ohio State and Notre Dame players who accepted invites to the Senior Bowl but will not be in attendance due to playing in the national championship game. Still, we're putting Howard here since he had initially accepted. Howard (6-4, 235) led the Buckeyes to a 14-2 record and their first national title since 2015. Will there be an accompanying draft stock boost for the QB who completed 73.1 percent of his passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season? Baumgardner wrote recently that Howard had shown enough improvement to thrust himself into the Day 3 conversation. 'One thing that he's exceptional at is if he knows what he's seeing, he's going to be able to carve you up because he's going to know where to throw the ball,' Baumgardner was told by a Big 12 defensive coordinator who is familiar with Howard and watched the Rose Bowl. 'He doesn't have this ridiculously crazy arm talent, but he's got such a good IQ and acumen for the game. If he knows what he's seeing, he's going to be able to throw it.' (Photo of Jalen Milroe: Will McLelland / Imagn Images)
