With the 2025 NFL Draft sufficiently behind us, I wanted to take a look back at what the Giants, specifically Joe Schoen, were able to accomplish with their picks.

            I was fortune enough to attend the annual draft party co-hosted by the Giants and Jets at MetLife Stadium with my Dad and brother. Outside of the odd Philadelphia Eagles fan wearing Saquon Barkley jerseys, who were seemingly only there to rub it in our face (you guys have your own stadium, you know! It’s that big, weird, ugly thing next to I-95 about four miles from the dump), I had a great time!

Throughout the evening, heading toward the eight o’clock hour when the Titans would be on the clock, I got the sense that most Giants fans (myself included) were hoping against hope we could land Linebacker Abdul Carter with the third pick in the First Round.  The Titans predictably chose Quarterback Cam Ward from the University of Miami, while the Jaguars surprised me by trading with the Browns for Wide Receiver/Cornerback Travis Hunter out of Colorado. Then it was our turn, and we were able to select Carter from Penn State! I was ecstatic, and confirming my earlier suspicion, so was pretty much the entire stadium!    

            My dad, brother, and I spent the next hour or so perusing the gift shop while keeping an eye on the First Round draft board. (and laughing at the Jets for trying to kick everybody out about half an hour after the draft started) Shortly thereafter, we decided to call it—happy we were able to land Carter and excited for the Second Round tomorrow…if only we knew what was about to happen.

            My Dad and I got back to our hotel, and not five minutes after I turned on the TV and flipped to ESPN’s Draft coverage, Joe Schoen decided he wanted to outdo Sonny Weaver Jr. and make a trade with the Houston Texans for the 25^th pick. We re-entered the First Round and proceeded to draft Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss. I was stunned.

            Not only was I stunned, but Joe followed Thursday night with one of the best all-around drafts I think I have ever seen. If you would have told me a month ago, we would have ended up with Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart, and Cam Skattebo, I wouldn’t have believed you! Throw in Darius Alexander, Marcus Mbow, Thomas Fidone II, and Korie Black, and it is evident that Joe Schoen not only knew where we needed to improve as a team, but he went out and did it!

            Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander will directly and indirectly improve the entire defense. Our Defensive Line will include Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Brian Burns among others…good luck trying to block all five of them while Korie Black, Tyler Nubin, Andru Phillips, and Cor’Dale Flott simply have to stall for time.  

            Marcus Mbow and Thomas Fidone II will greatly strengthen our pass protection, allowing Russell Wilson—and soon enough, Jaxson Dart—the time they need to find Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, or anyone else open down the field. My hope is that we take the Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love approach Green Bay has used in the past with their roster. Let Dart learn under Wilson and Winston so he can become the best possible Quarterback he can be before throwing him out on the field in 2026 or 2027.

            Cam Skattebo—the reigning Peach Bowl MVP, even though he was on the losing team—will join Tyrone Tracy in the backfield, and I can’t help but have flashbacks to the smile-inducing tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw! Skattebo is one of those players who can beat you single-handedly—never mind his ability to drag his team with him down the sideline!

            As of the time of me writing this, it is late Monday morning, and I still can’t believe these are our draft picks! Well done, Joe, and thanks for giving us Giants fans something to look forward to!

Photo by Sunil GC on Unsplash