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For the fourth time in the last six years, the New York Giants will enter the 2025 NFL Draft with a top-10 pick in hand. Coming off a disastrous 3-14 season, the Giants own the No. 3 overall pick, their highest selection since 2018. It’s time to continue our NFL Draft odds series with a No. 3 overall selection prediction and pick.
The Giants conducted most of the offseason looking as if they would take a quarterback with the No. 3 pick. With Cam Ward seemingly locking himself in as the No. 1 overall pick, that left Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as the team’s likely option. However, New York altered its trajectory by signing Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in free agency, alluding to a potentially different goal on draft night.
Regardless, after the way the Giants clearly tanked the end of the 2024 season, anything is possible for the team’s first-round pick. With Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll potentially entering their final chance with the organization, New York is in a confusing position. A trade is unlikely, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility, which would further alter the No. 3 overall pick outcome. For now, assume it will be Schoen making the decision at No. 3.
Here are the NFL Draft odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
Abdul Carter: -850
Shedeur Sanders: +700
Travis Hunter: +750
Jaxson Dart: +6000
Ashton Jeanty: +6000
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network
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Many view Abdul Carter as the best overall prospect of the class, making him an obvious choice for either the Cleveland Browns or the Giants at No. 2 or No. 3, respectively. With the Titans all but certainly to take Ward, Carter would be a fine option for either of the two rebuilding franchises. But with the Browns angling for Travis Hunter after putting all of their eggs in the Myles Garrett basket, Carter seems likely to still be on the board at No. 3.
The Giants have a bad overall reputation, but their defense was objectively elite for most of the 2024 season before they threw in the towel. Pass-rushing was a clear strength, as Shane Bowen’s team led the league in that category for the first half of the year. However, most of that production came from superstar nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II in the middle. After posting 11.5 sacks in 2023, Kayvon Thibodeaux disappointed with just 5.5 sacks in 2024.
In Bowen’s 3-4 system, Carter would be a uniquely versatile tool who would immediately turn the Giants’ above-average defensive line into a top-three unit in the league. Even if they do not view him as an outright replacement for Thibodeaux, Carter would pair nicely next to Lawrence and the newly acquired Chauncey Golston...
