NFL Draft 2025: Here’s how Giants get their QB | Final 7-round mock projection

The 2025 NFL Draft is finally here.

Thursday night is massively important for the Giants, who own the third overall pick and desperately need a long-term quarterback answer — but might not attempt to get that at No. 3.

So let’s bring you our final Giants seven-round mock draft.

As usual, we used Pro Football Focus’ simulator to make the non-Giants picks, in order to make this projection more realistic.

Here goes ...

Round 1 (No. 3): Edge rusher Abdul Carter, Penn State

After Cam Ward at No. 1 and Travis Hunter at No. 2, Joe Schoen — the Giants’ hot-seat fourth-year general manager — goes with the safest pick and passes on Shedeur Sanders in favor of Carter, who might be the best overall prospect in this draft. But he can’t play quarterback.

So ...

Round 1 (No. 20): QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Schoen moves from No. 34 (the second round’s second pick) and jumps the quarterback-needy Steelers at No. 21, while doing a deal with the Broncos at No. 20. In this simulation, Sanders heads to the Saints at No. 9. Schoen then passes on Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe to take Dart.

What would this 14-spot move cost the Giants?

Well, according to the draft trade value chart, there’s a 290-point difference between the two picks. The Giants’ first third-rounder (65th) is worth 265 points. Their second third-rounder (99th) is worth 104. Their fourth-rounder (105th) is worth 84.

But moving up for a quarterback costs more, so we’re projecting Schoen sends Nos. 65 and 105 (349 total points) to Denver, along with No. 34. Schoen retains that compensatory pick at the end of Round 3 (No. 99).

This is a bold move. But Schoen can’t sit around and wait for a quarterback like Sanders, Dart, Shough or Milroe to fall to him at No. 34, especially since the Saints (ninth), Steelers (21st), Rams (26th) and Browns (33rd) could all take a quarterback, after Ward goes first.

Round 3 (No. 99): OT Anthony Belton, N.C. State

The Giants are set at left tackle, with Andrew Thomas. But they can’t bank on Jermaine Eluemunor as a long-term solution at right tackle. So they go with Belton, who won’t be forced to start as a rookie. He’s a massive prospect — 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds — but could benefit from a season of learning from Eluemunor.

Round 5 (No. 154): DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

He might be gone by this pick. But if he’s not, the Giants should jump at the chance to get him. He could also be an option at No. 99, since PFF has him 105th in its overall prospect rankings. Bottom line: The Giants cannot count on Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the answer next to Dexter Lawrence. They need to address interior defensive line in this draft.

Round 7 (No. 219): S Maxen Hook, Toledo

A depth/special teams addition, after the Giants picked one safety (Tyler Nubin) in Round 2 last year and gave another (Jevon Holland) big money in free agency this offseason.

Round 7 (No. 246): LB Jay Higgins, Iowa

Another depth/special teams pick — which is ultimately what you’re looking for out of Round 7.

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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com.