EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The 2025 NFL draft from Green Bay, Wsconsin, wrapped on Saturday. The New York Giants took edge Abdul Carter from Penn State with the No. 3 selection of the first round and traded back via the Houston Texans to get Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart at No. 25. The Giants traded picks No. 34, No. 99 and a 2026 third-round pick.
Here's a look at New York's selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 3: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
My take: The direction of the Giants is now clear. Build up the defense, the pass rush in particular, and let that be the strength of the team. Carter joins Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence II and Bobby Okereke to give the Giants a front seven that can strike fear into opponents -- resembling some successful teams of their past. Carter was the kind of prospect the Giants couldn't bypass at No. 3. He was considered by some teams the best player in the draft. It wasn't difficult to go this direction with the general consensus that this wasn't an especially strong quarterback class after Cam Ward, who went No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans.
Will he start as a rookie? The No. 3 pick isn't going to sit. The Giants are going to find a way to get him on the field, even if Burns and Thibodeaux are on the roster. It helps that Carter played linebacker his first two years at Penn State. It will be up to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to find ways to get him on the field. It wouldn't be the least bit surprising if Carter plays alongside both Burns and Thibodeaux in distinctive sub-packages.
What we're hearing about Carter: "Great player!" one assistant general manager said. "Elite lower body flex," a defensive line coach raved. "Explosive and super productive" and "elite talent" other coaches added. There seems to be little doubt about the kind of player that Carter can be. He had 12 sacks in his first season as an edge rusher last year at Penn State. It's that pass rush ability that has many thinking he can produce similarly to Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons in the NFL. In fact, one coach said Carter modeled his game after Parsons -- and it shows. The Giants passed on Parsons in 2021. They weren't going to do the same with Carter.
Round 1, No. 25: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (via Houston Texans)
My take: Well, Schoen and Daboll finally took a swing at a quarterback. It's the first time they have drafted someone at the position since taking over in 2022. On the hot seat after finishing 3-14 last season, this could buy them time, especially if Dart flashes at any point this summer, preseason or during the regular season. There is a lot to like. Dart has talent. He's accurate, anticipates well, can escape pressure, run RPOs (run-pass options) and throws a good deep ball. He even admittedly has some "edge" that could make him a good fit in New York.
Will he start as a rookie?: Nope. At least not any time soon. It was pretty obvious the Giants want him to "sit and learn behind a couple veterans," as Schoen explained. Dart seemed to understand that. There are scenarios where the rookie could end up playing as the season progresses, but there is also a world where this will be like a redshirt year. There isn't a lot of pressure for the Giants to throw him into games this season, especially early in the year. That's exactly why they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency.
Ties to the team: Dart talked about how he was constantly receiving text messages from Daboll throughout the process, so they have developed a relationship. Playing at Ole Miss, he also knows Giants legend Eli Manning and his father Archie well. Eli and Archie communicated with Dart earlier Thursday to wish him good luck. Eli Manning surely will serve as a nice sounding board for the young quarterback from Utah about what to expect living and playing in New York.
Round 3, No. 65: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
My take: The Giants were looking to add more depth to their defensive line. A high-upside player, there is a belief that Alexander can still add more pass rush to his game. He's now the Giants' second front-seven selection in their first three picks, joining edge rusher Carter. They also added Chauncey Golston, Roy Robertson-Harris and Jeremiah Ledbetter in free agency as they rebuild the line. General manager Joe Schoen said stopping the run was a priority this offseason, as was improving the team's depth at the position.
Wild-card category: Alexander is already a good run defender, something the Giants needed after struggling to stop the run the past two seasons. He had 26 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage on designed rushes since the start of 2023, fifth most in FBS. This should come in handy for the Giants, who finished 27th in run defense last year.
Round 4, No. 105: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
My take: This is the big, physical running back the Giants wanted to add to their backfield to complement last year's fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. As a result, Skattebo should have an immediate Year 1 role. It's now the third straight year that the Giants have taken a Day 3 running back (Eric Gray, Tracy and Skattebo) under general manager Joe Schoen, who is still trying to replace Saquon Barkley.
Round 5: No. 154 (from Seattle): Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue
My take: Taking an interior offensive lineman was always a strong possibility for the Giants. In fact, it probably took longer than expected. Mbow probably would have gone earlier in the draft had there not been concerns about his medicals. But he now enters a muddy mix at guard where there could be opportunity for playing time with Greg Van Roten currently the starter on the right side. Mbow now joins Joshua Ezeudu, Evan Neal and Jake Kubas in that mix.
Round 7, No. 219: Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska
My take: The third straight offensive player added to the mix on Day 3. Fidone is the Y tight end the Giants were expected to land in this draft. He does have an extensive injury history and was a part-time player at Nebraska. But before tearing an ACL twice, Fidone was once the top tight end recruit, ahead of the Raiders' Brock Bowers. So there is talent and a chance to develop.
Round 7, No. 246: Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State
My take: The Giants' final pick is a cornerback who has good ball skills. He can now join the mix at the position, where depth could still be valuable. The Giants were extremely thin at cornerback last year and added only Paulson Adebo in free agency. So there is a path to the roster for the final pick of New York's 2025 draft.