The New York Giants entered the 2025 NFL Draft with eight picks over the three-day event. They left Thursday night’s first round with two players they hope can become building blocks for the future: edge rusher Abdul Carter and quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Giants selected Carter at No. 3, then traded pick Nos. 34 and 99, as well as a 2026 third-rounder, to the Houston Texans for pick No. 25 and the chance to draft Dart.
It was a big swing for Giants GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll, who are embarking on a pivotal fourth season at the helm in New York. While they appear to have gotten off to a good start, there’s still plenty more work to be done.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each Giants pick.
Round 1
No. 3: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
How he fits
Obvious choice for the Giants and they’ll still be looking for a QB, but that defensive line is going to be ferocious. Pairing Carter with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns on the edges with Dexter Lawrence inside is going to give offenses nightmares. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen can get creative to get them all on the field. Carter was an off-ball linebacker before moving to the edge full time this season. Similarly to Micah Parsons, he can rush from anywhere as a spinner. The Giants have a long way to go but they have at least should have a dominant pass rush. — Ted Nguyen
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A three-year starter at Penn State, Carter lined up as a wide rusher in former defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s four-man line, standing up and rushing with his hand on the ground. After initially wanting to stay at off-ball linebacker, he made the transition to an edge role in 2024 and lived up to high expectations, ranking No. 1 in the FBS in tackles for loss (23.5), No. 2 in pressures (66) and No. 7 in sacks (12.5). His production matches his traits, and his impact was best captured in a 2024 Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, even though Carter played that game with an injured left shoulder.
With only one season under his belt as a true edge rusher, Carter needs continued polish in his attack. His arrow is pointing sky high, though, because of his get-off burst, body twitch and competitive intensity. Despite having average size for run-game responsibilities, he regains his balance quickly after taking a jolt from blockers and plays with tremendous range to slip blocks and close in a flash. Overall, Carter is a disruptive presence, because of his explosive nature and how he mixes up his rushes to win with speed, force and a budding arsenal of moves. He projects as a 1A pass rusher, with a gift for consistently making the quarterback move his feet and making plays in the run game.
Charlotte Carroll and Dan Duggan’s analysis
• Giants leave Round 1 of NFL Draft having executed a possible best-case scenario
• New York Giants draft edge Abdul Carter: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Grade: A
The Giants could have panicked and went for need, but instead they did the right thing by taking the best player on the board. Carter was a relentless edge rusher at Penn State and he’ll fit in with Brian Burns on the Giants’ 3-4 defense. He also should push Kayvon Thibodeaux for snaps and perhaps a starting role.
Carter shifted from linebacker to edge last year at Penn State and became a unanimous first-team All-American and the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year. He finished with 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. Perhaps most impressive, he fought through a serious left shoulder injury in the College Football Playoff and still was a dominant player. It prevented him from combine testing, but his toughness trumps whatever numbers he forfeited in Indianapolis. — Scott Dochterman
From Happy Valley to the Big Apple 🔥@Giants x @PennStateFball x @1NCRDB1 pic.twitter.com/3i9x8OosTj
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 25, 2025
No. 25: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
How he fits
Dart should sit for a year or two, which the Giants can afford to do with Wilson and Winston on the depth chart ahead of him. Dart has some of the best natural arm talent in this draft; he can make throws under pressure, and he’s a legitimate running threat. He’s coming from a very simplistic offensive system, and coach Lane Kiffin often called plays that got Dart’s first read open. Dart could struggle going deep into his progression. He needs time to learn a playbook and how to play from under center, but Dart has a high ceiling. He’ll fit well in Daboll’s spread offense. — Ted Nguyen
Dane Brugler analysis
A three-year starter at Ole Miss, Dart thrived in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s spread RPO, heavy play-action scheme (No. 1 in passing EPA per dropback in 2024). After transferring out of USC once Caleb Williams arrived, he found a home with Kiffin and left Oxford with numerous single-season and career records, including the Rebels’ all-time lead in wins (28), passing yards (10,617) and total offense (12,117).
With his physical tools and rhythm passing, he was an ideal fit in Kiffin’s quarterback-friendly offense, although the simplistic nature of the scheme leaves NFL scouts questioning his post-snap decision-making process when reads aren’t as structured and predetermined. The other key concern is his tendency to prematurely drop his eyes once the pocket gets heated. However, his athleticism to buy time and scramble for positive yards is an asset. Overall, Dart needs time to develop his progression-based reads and anticipation (things he wasn’t asked to regularly do in college), but he is a natural thrower of the football with promising mobility and high-level competitive intangibles. If allowed to develop at his own pace, he offers NFL starting upside in the right situation.
Giants GM Joe Schoen on Jaxson Dart:
“Fired up to have Jaxson Dart” pic.twitter.com/Komqe3vGQU— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) April 25, 2025
Charlotte Carroll and Dan Duggan’s analysis
• Giants leave Round 1 of NFL Draft having executed a possible best-case scenario
• Giants draft QB Jaxson Dart: How he fits, draft grade and scouting intel
Fantasy impact
As I mentioned in my pre-draft piece, this is too funny. Why? Dart has all the upside, all the concerns, and all the similarities to Daniel Jones. Of course, with the rushing upside, that brings QB1 potential, and he does have a terrific No. 1 WR in Malik Nabers. The Giants don’t need him to start immediately, but for fantasy, you hope Dart can beat out both. It’s more likely this QB room is Wilson’s to start, and Dart’s later on. In superflex dynasty drafts, Dart is worth a mid-first-round gamble, but the floor is what happened to Daniel Jones. — Jake Ciely
Grade: A
The Giants did their homework on every available quarterback and picked up the one they wanted at just the right price. Instead of reaching for a quarterback at No. 3, the Giants picked the best player available and then traded back into the first round to grab their quarterback. By not panicking, the Giants got what they wanted and needed. With veterans Wilson and Winston in the building, there’s a buffer to ensure that Dart won’t get overwhelmed on Day 1. It’s too early to predict success, but the process was perfect and the compensation was not too steep.
Dart started three games at USC as a true freshman in 2021 but left after Lincoln Riley brought in Caleb Williams. Dart then transferred to Ole Miss, where he thrived for three seasons under Kiffin. In his final two seasons, Dart threw 52 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions while compiling 7,643 yards. Last fall, he set an SEC passing yardage record with 4,279 yards and completed 69.3 percent of his passes. — Scott Dochterman
Round 2
No picks
Round 3
No. 65:
Round 4
No. 105:
Round 5
No. 154 (from Seattle):
Round 6
No picks
Round 7
No. 219:
No. 246 (from Buffalo):
(Photo of Jaxson Dart: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)