In a new seven-round mock draft from Pro Football Network, the New York Giants secure their quarterback in what seems like an ideal scenario. Let’s break it down.
The Daniel Jones era in New York now feels like a thing of the past, leaving the Giants in urgent need of a new quarterback. Holding the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft gives them a prime opportunity to address that need.
Round 1 (No. 3) — Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Cam Ward, with his natural arm strength and ability to improvise, makes a strong case as the top quarterback in this year’s class. While comparisons to the 2024 quarterback prospects are a separate debate, taking a high-upside shot at the position is crucial. Ward arguably possesses the highest ceiling among the 2025 quarterback prospects.
Valentine’s View: This scenario is ideal for the Giants. With Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter going first overall to the Titans and Colorado’s Travis Hunter landing with the Browns at No. 2, New York gets its pick of quarterbacks without sacrificing draft assets to trade up.
The selection here is Ward, and it’s the one I would make as well. His physical tools and upside make him the best quarterback prospect in this draft class.
Round 2 (No. 34) — Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
PFN notes that while the Giants are expected to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, they also have a significant need at cornerback that must be addressed.
Azareye’h Thomas has been a fast riser on draft boards, and for good reason—he didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage during the 2024 season. A tall, physical, and competitive boundary corner, Thomas also possesses impressive speed for his size.
Scouting Report (via The 33rd Team):
PFN notes that while the Giants are expected to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, they also have a significant need at cornerback that must be addressed.
Azareye’h Thomas has been a fast riser on draft boards in recent weeks, and for good reason—he didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage during the 2024 season. A tall, physical, and competitive boundary corner, Thomas also possesses impressive speed for his size.
Scouting Report (via The 33rd Team):
Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas is a naturally gifted, developmental cornerback with the potential to become a high-quality NFL starter. His combination of length, agility, and physicality makes him well-suited for perimeter coverage.
With the right NFL coaching, Thomas could develop into a disruptive coverage defender. At Florida State, he primarily played in man coverage and quarters schemes, gaining experience both with his eyes on the quarterback and in direct man-to-man situations. While he needs to refine his press technique and improve his ball-tracking ability, he already possesses the foundational traits necessary for an outside cornerback.
Valentine’s Take:
If the Giants secure Thomas in the second round after selecting a quarterback in the first, it would be a strong outcome.
While Thomas fits more as a press-man corner rather than a zone defender, he has been generating late first-round buzz following the Senior Bowl, making this a reasonable value pick for a position of need.
Other Notable Prospects Still Available:
- T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
- Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
- Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
- Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
- Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
- Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State
Round 3 (No. 65) — Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina
PFN notes that Kyle Kennard is a long, explosive edge rusher with polished hand technique and strong collegiate production. His physical traits would make him a valuable addition to the Giants’ pass-rushing rotation.
Scouting Report (via The 33rd Team):
South Carolina EDGE defender Kyle Kennard is a twitchy, long-armed pass rusher with impressive speed-to-power conversion. He’s a well-rounded player who has shown effectiveness both as a pass rusher and a run defender. NFL teams should be optimistic about his potential to develop into a high-volume contributor with time in their system.
Kennard took a significant step forward in 2024, thriving alongside a talented South Carolina defensive front in his final college season. His ability to succeed without being the focal point of a pass rush bodes well for his transition to an NFL defense that doesn’t require him to carry the load on passing downs.
Valentine’s Take:
I haven’t fully evaluated Kennard yet, but with Azeez Ojulari likely departing in free agency, the Giants could certainly use more pass-rushing depth. GM Joe Schoen even emphasized in a recent Sirius XM NFL Radio interview that “you can never have enough pass rushers.”
Other Prospects Considered:
- Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
- Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia
- Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
- Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
Additionally, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was selected at No. 67 by the Cleveland Browns.
The rest of the draft
PFN provides the remainder of the Giants’ draft selections without additional commentary.
Round 4 (No. 104) — C.J. West, DT, Indiana
Scouting Report (via Draft Buzz):
West’s tape shows that he thrives in a single-gap front, bringing explosiveness when allowed to attack. Teams selecting him in the later rounds are getting a rotational defensive tackle with clear pass-rushing upside. His best fit is as a 3-technique where he can focus on penetrating and disrupting plays. However, concerns remain about his balance and tackling efficiency, limiting his effectiveness in an expanded role.
Valentine’s Take:
The Giants need defensive line depth, but this may be an early selection for West, who is ranked No. 188 on the NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus Big Board.
Notably, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was selected at No. 101 by the Tennessee Titans, making it unlikely he lasts until the first pick of Round 4 in the actual draft.
Additional Selections:
- Round 4 (No. 134) — Sebastian Castro, CB, Iowa (compensatory pick, projected)
- Round 5 (No. 155) — Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
- Round 7 (No. 221) — Thomas Perry, G, Middlebury
- Round 7 (No. 248) — Melvin Smith Jr., CB, Southern Arkansas
I appreciate that this draft allows the Giants to take multiple swings at cornerback and offensive line, two positions of need.
Spotlight on Thomas Perry:
Perry, a Division III standout known as “Thomas the Tank”, gained attention at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Emory Hunt (CBS Sports) on Perry:
As the only Division III player at the event, Perry took a day to adjust to the higher level of competition. However, he quickly adapted, performing well in combo blocking drills and 1-on-1 matchups. Interestingly, he looked most comfortable at center, which could be his best fit in the NFL.
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