The Giants secured the third overall pick in April’s NFL Draft on Sunday after a 20-13 loss to division rival Philadelphia Eagles. Going into the day, there was a range of possibilities where they could have landed as high as the second pick and as low as the ninth pick. Week 17’s surprising win against the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Brown’s loss on Saturday night stopped Big Blue from securing the first overall pick- and ensuring they could get the quarterback they covet.
Giants Officially Secure the Third Overall Pick in 2025 NFL Draft
Now General Manager Joe Schoen, if he is retained, will decide what direction he wants to take the team in a crucial offseason where he needs to find the next franchise quarterback and fill out a roster that lacks quality depth at crucial positions.
The 2024 season exposed the faults in the Giants roster and they need immediate upgrades at:
- Cornerback
- Interior offensive lineman
- Defensive tackle
- Linebacker
- Defensive End/ Edge Rusher
Most importantly, the team needs a new signal caller, but Schoen may be hard-pressed to find blue chip talent at the top of the draft if the two top quarterbacks are off the board.
Furthermore, finding the next franchise quarterback without the first overall pick means Schoen will most likely need to trade up with either the Titans or Browns who are ahead of them. The price, based on previous draft trades, will not be cheap.
Are Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders worth it?
In the past 20 years, three NFL teams have traded up to acquire one of the top two picks in the draft.
2023: Bears-Panthers Trade for No. 1 Overall Pick
- Panthers Received:
- No. 1 overall pick (used to select QB Bryce Young).
- Bears Received:
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 9 overall).
- 2023 second-round pick (No. 61 overall).
- 2024 first-round pick.
- 2025 second-round pick.
- WR DJ Moore.
2016: Titans-Rams Trade for No. 1 Overall Pick
- Rams Received:
- No. 1 overall pick (used to select QB Jared Goff).
- Fourth-round pick (2016).
- Sixth-round pick (2016).
- Titans Received:
- 2016 first-round pick (No. 15 overall).
- Two 2016 second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 45 overall).
- 2016 third-round pick (No. 76 overall).
- 2017 first-round pick.
- 2017 third-round pick.
2016: Browns-Eagles Trade for No. 2 Overall Pick
- Eagles Received:
- No. 2 overall pick (used to select QB Carson Wentz).
- Fourth-round pick (2017).
- Browns Received:
- 2016 first-round pick (No. 8 overall).
- 2016 third-round pick (No. 77 overall).
- 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100 overall).
- 2017 first-round pick.
- 2018 second-round pick.
At the minimum, the trade package will include this year’s first and second-round picks, a mid-round pick, and a high-end pick in the 2026 draft. If Schoen pulls the trigger on a trade, he better have a conviction on one of the quarterbacks or else the Giants may find themselves at the top of next year’s draft cycle again.
However, Schoen learned last season that it takes two teams to trade. It was well documented on the inaugural offseason Hard Knocks the Giants desperately tried to trade with the New England Patriots to take Drake Maye, some reports that they offered as much as their next three first-round picks. New England stayed put and the rest is history.
If this were to happen again- and it might- the Titans and the Browns both need quarterbacks in their own right- the Giants might focus on taking the best player available. Some players include:
- Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Needless to say, the 2025 decisions the Giants front-office makes this offseason is going to be imperative to the team’s success- or demise- in the future. The games begin tomorrow as the Giants shift to draft preparation as their rivals prepare for the playoffs.
Main Photo: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
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