Who Should the New York Giants Target in the Draft?
It was a tough year for Giants fans. What started out the season as an exciting feature on Hard Knocks, an NFL film highlighting teams that people believe will have a turnaround, quickly became the Giants’ own undoing, a replaying nightmare for fans. The general manager for the Giants, Joe Schoen, decided not to re-sign all-world talent Saquon Barkley in order to pursue a future with Daniel Jones. He did so despite calls to keep Saquon from owner John Mara, Giants fans, and even his own children. What happened as a result? A 3-14 2024 campaign, the worst record by win percentage for the Giants since 1974. As for Daniel Jones, he was released by the team on mutual terms before December. Everything has led to this for fans: a championship Sunday featuring two of the club’s biggest rivals, the Washington Commanders, and, of course, Saquon’s new team, the Eagles. It was not what big blue supporters had hoped for, but if there is any sign of optimism, it’s the upcoming NFL Draft, where the Giants sit with the third overall pick. This article will break down who I think the Giants should target early, taking an especially close look at that primed third overall pick.
First Round - Third overall: Cam Ward, University of Miami
Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, that’s the mantra for Giants fans and a demand that Joe Schoen won’t stop hearing until he secures one on draft day. There has been significant discussion in the football-centric communities of New York about whether the Giants should trade up to guarantee themselves one of Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, the two premier QBs out of this year’s class. For now, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns hold each of the first two picks of the draft, respectively. The Titans are the more likely of the two to target a quarterback. It’s an understatement to say that Kentucky product Will Levis hasn’t worked out the way Tennessee hoped he would, and with the first overall pick, it’s time the Titans secure their permanent answer. The Browns, meanwhile, are less likely to want a quarterback. Deshaun Watson is set to return from his Achilles injury that ended his 2024 season early. Instead, the Browns are likely to go for someone like Travis Hunter, who can accelerate what was a fairly slow offense even when Watson was healthy.
For me, the Giants must take either Cam Ward or Sanders. Those two stand head and shoulders above the rest of the quarterbacks and can make an immediate difference for an NFL team. I lean more toward Cam Ward for the Giants specifically because the team’s offense schematics typically favor pocket passers instead of quarterbacks who want to roll out of the pocket. Shedeur has shown a willingness to learn with his tenure in Colorado, however, and if he’s available at three instead of Ward, I think it’s not a wrong pick either. If rumors develop that both Cleveland and Tennessee are looking at taking a quarterback, I think the Giants must move in for a trade.
Second Round - 34th overall: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State University
I know Malik Nabers showed the NFL world he was the elite, playmaking wide receiver from LSU that everybody thought he was. He was one of the few bright spots in this Giants team. The truth is, however, that few teams suffered from more drops than New York this year. With 33 this season, they ranked tied for third alongside the Packers and Chargers. Nabers can’t do it all alone, and I think this pick would be a great spot for the Giants to find their number two guy at the wide receiver position. It’s at this 34th pick where most mock drafts still have Ohio State product Emeka Egbuka available. He’s fast, strong, agile, and somehow always finds a way to be open. A tangent of him and Nabers would give defensive coordinators nightmares regardless of how the quarterback situation pans out for the Giants.
Third Round - 65th overall: Josaiah Stewart, University of Michigan
Josaiah Stewart has all the characteristics you want in an NFL defensive edge. He’s got the size at six feet, one inch, and 245 pounds, explosiveness off the snap, and elite at finishing his plays for a sack. He was part of that core defensive front seven of Michigan that played a huge role in their 2023 National Championship campaign. He would complete a ferocious linebacker squad in New York with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. If Stewart is still available in this spot in the draft, he should be on the radar of Schoen and company.
