Picking No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Giants might be out of range to draft their franchise quarterback. The Giants found themselves in a similar position last offseason when they held the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
General manager Joe Schoen spent the 2024 offseason attempting to trade up and draft a quarterback to no avail. Perhaps he will have more success trading up this time around in a weaker draft class with more varied quarterback talent at the top.
Giants trade up to No. 1 overall pick to draft Cam Ward in latest mock draft
In the latest mock draft over on The Draft Network, Schoen successfully struck a deal to move up and get that quarterback. TDN’s Jaime Eisner had the G-Men moving up to the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, giving up the following haul to swap picks with the Tennessee Titans and land Miami QB Cam Ward:
- Giants receive: Pick 1.1 (Cam Ward)
- Titans receive: Picks 1.3, 2.34, 3.65, 2026 2nd
Eisner explained the trade and subsequent selection, citing the weak free agency class as a motivator to get a deal done to add a rookie signal-caller:
“General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have been given one more chance to get it right in New York,” Eisner explained. “I don’t believe they’ll spend their ninth life with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Jimmy Garoppolo, or Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback. That means they need to be aggressive and move up to get ‘their guy.’ Schoen and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell already have one in-person viewing of Ward. The Miami quarterback’s potential upside is the highest in the class.”
It will be a do-or-die offseason for Schoen, his front office, and head coach Brian Daboll. New York’s top decision-makers will need to get the quarterback right. Signing a bridge in free agency is just one step of the puzzle — landing that future franchise signal-caller is priority No. 1.
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Ward could be the Giants’ next franchise quarterback
The Giants paid a steep price to move up in this mock draft. However, the cost of a franchise quarterback is priceless. If New York is convinced that Ward will be that guy for them, then they will not even hesitate to pull the trigger and move up to draft him.
Ward has franchise quarterback potential. He is the No. 1-ranked quarterback on Pro Football Focus’s Big Board following a historically good 2024 season. Ward threw for 4,313 passing yards and a nation-leading 39 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. His success this season earned him a spot as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
TDN’s scouting report describes Ward as “an uber-talented signal-caller whose fundamental arm talent and maturity showcase an immense ceiling at the quarterback position.”
Ward could absolutely be the first quarterback — and first player — off the board in April’s draft. Whether or not the Giants will be able to draft him will be determined by the willingness of the two teams in front of them to let him pass by. If they have the opportunity, though, Ward would be an exciting selection for the Giants as they hope to turn things around following a 3-14 season.