After a disappointing three-win season, the Giants currently hold the third overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Barring any first-round trades, New York has a fascinating decision to make for the future of its franchise. Despite some clear flaws, this roster has several exciting young players to build around. Ahead of Thursday night, let’s break down Big Blue’s NFL Draft odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
New York Giants first round pick prediction
Let’s assume the Titans take Miami’s Cam Ward with the first overall pick, as nearly every analyst is predicting. That leaves the Giants with two of three players to choose from: Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, and Shedeur Sanders. Hunter is a two-way freak of nature at cornerback and wide receiver. The only problem is that the Browns are likely to take the Heisman winner with the second pick (-800).
With Hunter off the board, Giants general manager Joe Schoen will have to choose between Carter and Sanders. The latter of the two is a game-wrecking edge rusher that dominated college football. Over 16 games at Penn State, the 21-year-old racked up 12.0 sacks and an FBS-leading 24 tackles for loss. Those numbers should entice New York’s defense, a unit that allowed the ninth-most yards in football last season. Right now, Carter is the clear favorite (-600) to join the G-Men.
Sanders would be much more of a shock considering what the Giants did in free agency. Big Blue signed veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, a move designed to help win now. Adding a third quarterback in one offseason would be almost unprecedented in recent NFL history. That’s especially true when considering Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are on the hot seat following two losing campaigns. A developmental passer is unlikely to help either save their job this upcoming season.
Still, there appears to be a possibility New York selects the Colorado QB. The team held a workout for Sanders last week, and it’s clear they’ve done their homework on the gunslinger. Ultimately, I still believe the Giants will take Carter, a high-upside talent. Pairing the edge rusher with Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux could wreak havoc on the NFC East. However, a good quarterback is more important than a great defender, even if there’s more risk involved. Right now, Sanders is a tremendous value at better than five-to-one odds.
