Big Blue View
Oh, and they get Abdul Carter
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay of The Ringer has the New York Giants taking a big swing for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in his newly-released mock draft.
If you receive McShay’s newsletter, you can read the entire mock draft there. You can also watch McShay make and explain the picks on his YouTube channel.
McShay went what is increasingly becoming chalk for the Giants at No. 3, selecting Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter. The Tennessee Titans took Cam Ward No. 1 and the Cleveland Browns selected Travis Hunter No. 2, leaving the Giants to make a pick that seems more realistic with each passing day.
On YouTube, you can hear McShay’s explanation at the 9:37 mark (thanks, Chris!). In his newsletter, he wrote:
The reason the Giants can’t reach for a quarterback here—like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart—is because Carter is available. It’s that simple. You can’t pass up on a “tier 1” or “blue chip” talent for a quarterback who doesn’t carry that type of grade.
I view this as a huge win for the Giants, though. They get arguably the best player in the class—whose positional value is considered by most as second only to quarterback—at pick no. 3. Carter’s versatility will allow defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to drive opposing quarterbacks wild. Just imagine a third-and-long with Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux stalking around before the snap, getting ready to hunt.
Valentine’s View: I can’t argue. In my view, the whole “where would Carter play with Thibodeaux and Burns on the roster” is overblown. Steve Spagnuolo figured it out with Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka. A handful of snaps at off-ball linebacker for Carter would be one possibility.
Carter is the best player on the board here. A transformational player who turns the Giants’ pass rush into one to be feared. If his medicals check out, picking him is a no-brainer.
How does McShay get Milroe to the Giants? He trades picks 34 and 65 to the Minnesota Vikings to move to 24 and select the player who could be the highest ceiling/lowest floor quarterback in this draft class.
For context. it is important to note that McShay’s mock features the somewhat stunning development of Jaxson Dart coming off the board before Shedeur Sanders. McShay has Dart going No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints and Sanders going No. 15 to the Browns, who send picks 33, 67 and a 2026 second-rounder to the Atlanta Falcons.
On YouTube, listen to McShay explain the Milroe trade at 1:02:54. In his newsletter, McShay wrote:
I don’t have a Round 1 grade on Jalen Milroe, and none of the evaluators I’ve spoken with in the NFL do, either. But it takes only one. And mock drafts aren’t about my rankings; they’re about the intel. The NFL has made it abundantly clear that it does not want another Aaron Rodgers, Brady Quinn,...
