The Giants Could Pull Off a Draft Night Power Move
The New York Giants might be in the mix for one of the most daring draft strategies we’ve seen in years — a scenario where they leave the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft with both a top-tier edge rusher and their quarterback of the future.
It might sound far-fetched, but according to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson, this dream scenario is inching closer to becoming reality.
The Rise of the Carter-Sanders Duo
Penn State’s Abdul Carter is widely viewed as the best defensive prospect outside of Travis Hunter. He wreaked havoc last season with 66 pressures, 13 sacks, and 39 tackles in just 350 pass-rushing snaps — a ridiculous level of production. His explosive first step and brute strength make life miserable for offensive linemen.
The Giants already boast a scary defensive front with Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence. Adding Carter to the mix would give them a terrifying trio capable of flipping any game on its head.
If Carter is still on the board at pick No. 3 — and if Shedeur Sanders starts sliding — why not grab both?
What’s the Deal with Shedeur?
No team has done more homework on Sanders than the Giants. They’ve attended nearly all his games, held private workouts, and analyzed everything from his mechanics to his interviews.
That level of scrutiny has stirred debate internally. Some within the organization are sold on Sanders’ polished game: 4,133 yards, 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 73.4% completion rate last year. He’s calm in the pocket and deadly accurate.
But others are more cautious. They question his mobility, arm strength, and his tendency to hold the ball too long — a big reason why he was sacked 41 times in 2024. While his fundamentals and accuracy are top-notch, his physical ceiling might not match other elite QB prospects. That could cause him to drop.
Head coach Brian Daboll is reportedly more interested in Jaxson Dart, but it’s unclear how much sway he has in the final decision. If the front office isn’t fully aligned on Sanders, picking him at No. 3 might be off the table.
A Strategy That Could Pay Off Big
So here’s the bold play: draft Carter at No. 3 to supercharge the defensive front, then package some mid-round picks — possibly a second-rounder and a third or fourth — to trade back into the first round and nab Sanders if he begins to fall.
That would give New York a day-one defensive star and a quarterback to develop without gambling their top pick on potential alone. If Sanders hits, the Giants look like visionaries. If not, they still walk away with a blue-chip talent in Carter.
It’s the kind of outside-the-box thinking the Giants need as they look to rebuild and return to contention in 2025.
