The New York Giants were defeated 14-11 by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Their eighth consecutive setback, the Giants are now slated to possess the No. 2 overall selection in April’s 2025 NFL Draft. A roster reset is nearing for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
A massive offseason awaits the decision-makers in East Rutherford. A franchise quarterback sits atop the wishlist. We've conducted a seven-round mock draft that could serve as a blueprint for improvement.
Round 1 (No. 2 overall): Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The Giants are obviously positioning themselves to draft a new quarterback. Daniel Jones was benched so the organization wouldn't have to pay any injury guarantees next season. They granted his request to be released and have been playing Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock at quarterback ever since.
Cam Ward remains an occasionally frustrating prospect, but Daboll is the ideal coach to develop his raw playmaking ability into something more tangible. Josh Allen has become a lazy comparison for college quarterbacks, but Daboll's experience working with him in Buffalo makes him the ideal candidate to help Ward work through his kinks. The Giants will build an offense around his skill set.
Round 2 (No. 33 overall): Marcus Mbow, OT, Purdue
The Evan Neal experience obviously hasn't worked out. The Giants have played a slew of blockers at right tackle this season, showing no remaining confidence in their first-round bust. Neal will finally enter a contract year in 2025 and the Giants will anxiously wait for it to expire.
Drafting a right tackle to pair with Ward represents the reset this offense needs. Marcus Mbow plays right tackle at Purdue, meaning a position switch wouldn't be required for this projection. Mbow is an outstanding athlete with a finisher's mentality.
Round 3 (No. 66 overall): Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
The Giants have recorded a league-low two interceptions this season. That's unacceptable for first-year defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Adoree’ Jackson is once again playing on an expiring contract and is unlikely to return in 2025.
Dru Phillips, Tyler Nubin, and Deonte Banks make up an ascending secondary and Schoen should continue investing in youth. Jacob Parrish has recorded one interception and seven pass breakups this year. Parrish is instinctual with the ball skills this defense requires.
Round 4 (No. 102 overall): Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan
Azeez Ojulari is scheduled to reach free agency. The Giants are unlikely to re-sign him considering they already have premium resources invested in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. Ojulari deserves a starting role and a bigger payday elsewhere.
Replacing him with a capable rotational rusher is crucial to maintaining depth at the position. Michigan's Josaiah Stewart has exploded to record 8.5 sacks in his second campaign with the Wolverines. Stewart has already accepted his invite to this year's Senior Bowl, where he'll continue establishing himself as a borderline top-100 pick.
Round 4 (No. 134 overall): Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Malik Nabers has quickly developed into a go-to receiver in Daboll's offense. That's a terrific development. The next quarterback will appreciate his presence. Wan'Dale Robinson is another useful threat underneath the coverage. Elsewhere, Darius Slayton is expected to reach free agency. A bigger-bodied boundary receiver would help round out Daboll's room.
Jayden Higgins is a big-framed pass catcher who places stress on opposing corners in coverage. The Cyclones standout is fluid for his size and does an excellent job running routes with tempo and burst. Higgins would be an interesting replacement for Slayton.
Round 5 (No. 160 overall): Garrett Dellinger, OL, LSU
Interior depth is required. Both Greg Van Roten and Aaron Stinnie are on expiring contracts. Van Roten is the only member of the Giants offense to play 100% of offensive snaps this season. The Giants should attempt to re-sign him but must be prepared for all scenarios. Stinnie is a quality depth guard.
Garrett Dellinger has played every position for LSU throughout his underrated career. Dellinger is an ideal fit to play a swing interior role at both guard and center at the next level. He'll garner interest from NFL scouts in Mobile this year.
Round 7 (No. 218 overall): Upton Stout, SAF, Western Kentucky
Veteran safety Jason Pinnock is scheduled for free agency and hasn't played like a long-term solution. The Giants should add competition to this spot regardless. Upton Stout enters the pre-draft process as a lesser-known prospect but has an opportunity to elevate himself in Mobile. Stout is undersized (5-9, 182), but he's instinctual with six career interceptions.
Round 7 (No. 245 overall): Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB, Kentucky
The Giants should continue addressing the future of their linebacker core after drafting Darius Muasau last year. Kentucky's Jamon Dumas-Johnson transferred to the Wildcats ahead of this season after playing three campaigns at Georgia. Dumas-Johnson has totaled 67 tackles and 3.5 sacks this year, and at worst, projects as a core special teamer.
Round 7 (No. 256 overall): Austin Brinkman, LS, West Virginia
Aging long snapper Casey Kreiter is a free agent and could weigh retirement in the offseason. Austin Brinkman has been West Virginia's long snapper for four seasons. He's a draftable talent at a specialized position. Brinkman has accepted his invite to this year's Senior Bowl.
