In Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the New York Giants make a surprising splash at the No. 3 selection. After an offseason of retooling the quarterback room, the Giants currently roster Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Tommy DeVito at the position. With three quarterbacks who hold experience starting in the NFL, the door now opens for general manager Joe Schoen to make a move at a different position.
Who Makes the Most Sense for the New York Giants at Three?
Assessing the latest mock from Kiper, we can see Shedeur Sanders fall to No. 9 with the New Orleans Saints. The Giants on the other hand go with one of two options according to the ESPN draft analyst.
“Even after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the Giants have been linked to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. I’m not ruling it out. Neither Wilson nor Winston is a long-term answer. However, the additions mean the Giants can at least toy with passing on the quarterbacks in Round 1 in favor of one of the class’s top two prospects. Travis Hunter is off the board, but Carter would take this New York defense to new heights.
“In his first season as a full-time edge rusher (after playing primarily off-ball linebacker in past years), Carter had 12 sacks and 23.5 total tackles for loss. I see elite traits on the tape. And considering the Giants have holes all over their roster, they might opt for the best player on the board. They’d have something with Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence II up front.”
With the current state of the G-men’s roster, Kiper sees it in their best interest to simply select the best prospect available at their pick. Abdul Carter and Hunter undeniably serve as the top two overall prospects coming into the draft.
With Hunter’s versatility and athleticism, he could make a lethal partnership alongside Malik Nabers (or Deonte Banks) who enters his sophomore season.
Carter on the other hand is strangely comparable to another former Penn State edge rusher. Carter and Micah Parsons play the same style of tough, fast, and explosive edge rushing.
Survey Says: Just One QB To Go in Top-Five
In a recent 7-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft by PFSN’s Reese Decker, we once again see the Giants pass on Sanders, or any QB for that matter. This time, the script flips and it is now Hunter who falls to the G-men with Carter going at the two spot. Decker elaborates further on why Hunter feels right in blue.
“As a Giant, Hunter would join forces with Malik Nabers, who delivered a sensational rookie campaign in 2024, giving the Big Blue two dynamic playmakers on the perimeter. Add in promising second-year talents like tight end Theo Johnson and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., and suddenly, the Giants are a quarterback away from having a promising young core.”
It appears the tide may be turning for Sanders and his draft positioning with the recent Giants QB management. However, it is pretty clear that both Wilson and Winston are temporary solutions for New York. It will be up to Schoen to evaluate just how long the “short-term” feels comfortable with the two veteran QBs.