The pressure is on Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen after an abysmal 3-14 disaster. The New York Giants need a strong showing in the 2025 NFL Draft as much as any franchise, or more change could be coming to East Rutherford. How does the Giants’ draft grade out according to PFSN?
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Overall Giants Draft Grade: B
For better or worse, the ultimate ruling of the New York Giants’ 2025 NFL Draft class will be decided by Jaxson Dart’s outcome. If he becomes the franchise QB they believe he can be, then this class is a success. If Dart ends up being a bust, then it’ll be an irreconcilable stain on an otherwise excellent haul.
The Dart move was aggressive, and somewhat borne out of desperation for Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, but at the very least, Dart does have the athleticism, toughness, and elastic arm to grow into a quality starter in time.
And credit where credit is due: The rest of the draft was stellar for New York. Abdul Carter is a blue-chip player, Darius Alexander and Marcus Mbow can be starters in the trenches. Cam Skattebo is a great RB to add to the stable, Thomas Fidone is a quality TE2, and Korie Black is good depth.
Dart’s development will make or break this group to a degree, but players like Carter also have the potential to impact the franchise in a positive way far past any QB transition. The Giants’ talent core has greatly improved, but it’s the wild card at QB that will shape the fate of the entire regime.
Grades for Every Giants Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 3
Abdul Carter, EDGE | Penn State
Grade: A+
It was essentially chalk for weeks leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft that the New York Giants were the favorites to land Abdul Carter. Now they’ve made that official, selecting one of two bona fide blue-chip talents in the class with the third overall pick.
The 2024 season was just Carter’s first year as a full-time EDGE, and he amassed 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss, earning All-American honors in the process. At his 6’3”, 250-pound size, he has perhaps the most dynamic explosiveness of any EDGE prospect of the last five cycles – at least – and his combined burst, bend, hand strength, pursuit speed, and motor can overwhelm.
In the short term, the Giants have an abundance of EDGE talent with Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, but Thibodeaux’s long-term future is murky, emphasizing Carter’s value. Carter can be a game-wrecker off the line, and his off-ball background grants him additional versatility.
- Round 1, Pick 25
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Grade: C
We knew someone was going to trade back into the first round for a quarterback, the only question was who and when. In the end, it was the New York Giants who made the first move, trading with the Texans to acquire the 25th overall pick, where they then selected Jaxson Dart.
The move to add Dart has an undertone of desperation; Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen need results to save their jobs, and drafting a young QB can be a way to extend one’s window of opportunity. Dart is in an ideal situation where he has a WR1 in Malik Nabers and doesn’t have to start right away with Russell Wilson in-house – but he has work to do in order to reach his ceiling.
There are redeeming qualities with Dart. He’s athletic, competitive, and flashes legitimate middle-of-field anticipation, and his arm is supremely loose and elastic. But the Ole Miss offense didn’t insulate many NFL-translatable processing skills, and he’ll need to become a more consistent progression thrower. Dart has some time to sit and learn as it stands, but there will undoubtedly be pressure at some point in New York. He has to be ready when it comes.
- Round 3, Pick 65
Darius Alexander, DT | Toledo
Grade: B
The Giants aren’t messing around in the trenches this year. After spending the third overall pick on Abdul Carter, New York has beefed up its interior with another strong pass rusher in Toledo’s Darius Alexander. The Senior Bowl standout can play from the 1-technique through the 4i, making him an intriguing pair with Dexter Lawrence.
Alexander’s age (he’ll turn 25 in August) and small-school pedigree dropped him in the draft. However, his quick first step and heavy hands allow him to penetrate in one-gapping schemes, and his motor should play well in a situational pass rushing role. With Carter and Alexander joining Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants suddenly look very deep on the defensive line.
- Round 4, Pick 105
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Grade: B+
Regardless of who’s playing quarterback for the Giants in 2025, Joe Schoen and the front office are making it a point to ensure they have talented weapons in the running game. New York got a steal with Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the 5th round a season ago. He finished with over 1,000 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns. Cam Skattebo adds a different element to the Giants’ rushing attack.
Skattebo is a powerful runner who breaks tackles and excels in tight lanes. He’s a rare specimen and a bruiser in the ground game, but he’s also proven to be a capable weapon catching passes out of the backfield. After moving on from Saquon Barkley, it’s clear New York wants to put together a formidable rushing attack again with Skattebo and Tracy.
- Round 5, Pick 154
Marcus Mbow, OL | Purdue
Grade: A+ - Round 7, Pick 219
Thomas Fidone, TE | Nebraska
Grade: A+ - Round 7, Pick 246
Korie Black, CB | Oklahoma State
Grade: A+