NFL Draft Notebook: Giants land new face of the franchise in 7-round NFL Mock Draft

Things have looked bleak for the New York Giants, who are enduring a franchise-record 10-game losing streak. The situation worsened after the team released former first-round pick Daniel Jones in Week 10. Since then, the Giants have averaged just 11.8 points and 257 total yards per game—both the lowest marks in the league during that span.

However, there’s a glimmer of hope for Giants fans. The team is poised to secure the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With this selection, they are expected to draft their next franchise quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, who has the potential to revive the offense. Sanders' ability to distribute the ball effectively, as he demonstrated at Colorado, could be instrumental in unlocking the potential of playmakers like Malik Nabers.

In this week’s NFL Draft Notebook, we provide a seven-round mock draft for the Giants, spotlight five key storylines to follow this weekend, and share the latest NFL Draft news—including a significant concern surrounding Caleb Williams.

New York Giants 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The Giants' top priority in the 2025 NFL Draft is finding a franchise quarterback, and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado fits the bill. Sanders showcased elite accuracy this season, completing 74% of his passes. His ability to pair with a dynamic wide receiver Malik Nabers could be a dangerous combination.

New York needs a partner for Dexter Lawrence II on the defensive line, and Shemar Stewart is an excellent fit. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Texas A&M standout possesses the quickness and power to transition from college defensive end to NFL 3-technique tackle. Stewart's skill set would bolster the Giants' interior pass rush and run defense.

"Shemar Stewart is a tremendous kid... If you gave me and you two hours in a lab to build a defensive end, they would come out looking like Shemar Stewart."

Texas A&M DC Jay Bateman

The Giants' secondary has struggled, allowing nearly 70% of passes completed against them. Zy Alexander from LSU could be a solution. The 6-foot-2 cornerback has been a standout in the SEC, allowing just 40% of passes thrown his way to be completed. His size, length, and instincts would provide a much-needed boost to the Giants' pass defense.

Protecting Shedeur Sanders will be crucial, and Grey Zabel can help solidify the offensive line. A versatile lineman with experience at every position for North Dakota State, Zabel could step in at right guard, filling the gap left by Greg Van Roten, or provide valuable depth as a backup tackle.

The Giants' receiver corps lacks size, and Jayden Higgins addresses this need. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Higgins excels in contested catch situations, with 14 such grabs this season. His presence would complement the Giants' smaller, faster receivers and provide a reliable red-zone target.

Injuries have plagued the Giants' offensive line, making depth a priority. Charles Grant, an athletic tackle from William & Mary and a Senior Bowl participant, offers developmental upside and versatility for a team needing reinforcements up front.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. has been a revelation, but the Giants need a power back to complement him. Kyle Monangai, the 2023 Big Ten rushing leader, fits the mold perfectly. Known for his physical running style, Monangai gained 831 of his 1,279 yards after contact, showcasing his ability to grind out tough yardage.

Special teams improvement is a focus late in the draft. Jackson Woodard, a linebacker from UNLV and the school's first-ever All-American at the position, offers value with his tackling ability (135 tackles, 17 TFLs in 2024) and knack for making plays in coverage (four interceptions).

Alabama’s CJ Dippre may not have gaudy stats, but his size (6-foot-5, 257 pounds) and strength make him a promising in-line tight end prospect. Dippre earned a Senior Bowl invite, signaling his potential to contribute as a blocker and occasional receiver at the next level.

Five things to watch this weekend

1. How many records can Raiders tight end Brock Bowers break

The brightest spot for the Raiders this season has undoubtedly been rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who has quickly emerged as one of the NFL’s top five players at his position. With two games left in the season, Bowers is on the brink of rewriting the record books. He’s just 10 receiving yards shy of surpassing Mike Ditka’s 1961 rookie tight end record of 1,076 yards. Additionally, he’s only four receptions away from breaking Rams receiver Puka Nacua’s single-season rookie receptions record. Given Bowers' remarkable consistency and the Raiders' focus on utilizing his unique skill set, expect him to top these milestones in the upcoming matchup against the Saints. If he does, it would further cement his status as one of the most electrifying young talents in the league.

2. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. second start

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. delivered a strong performance in his season debut against the Giants, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards in a dominant 34-7 victory. However, his second start presents a tougher challenge. This week, the Falcons will rely more heavily on Penix as they face the Washington Commanders, a team led by Rookie of the Year front-runner Jayden Daniels. To secure a win, Atlanta will need Penix to rise to the occasion and guide the offense in a likely high-scoring matchup.

3. College football playoffs

While these games don't kick off until Tuesday and Wednesday, they feature some of the top NFL Draft prospects in college football. A key matchup to watch is whether Arizona State's standout running back, Cam Skattebo, can break through a tough Texas defense. In terms of potential upsets in the second round of the playoffs, Ohio State is a team to watch. They looked dominant last week and came close to defeating Oregon in their earlier meeting this season.

4. Can Jared Verse secure NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?

While Jayden Daniels seems to have the Offensive Rookie of the Year locked up, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse has a chance to solidify his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year with a standout performance against the Cardinals. This season, Verse has been a disruptive force, tallying 68 pressures and 4.5 sacks. A dominant showing in this critical matchup could further strengthen his bid for the prestigious award.

5. Will Denver quarterback Bo Nix break another John Elway record

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has already shattered several of John Elway's rookie records, including touchdown passes, passing yards, and completions. However, one significant milestone still eludes him: becoming the first rookie quarterback since Elway to lead Denver to the playoffs.To achieve this, Nix and the Broncos face a daunting challenge. They must secure a win against either the high-powered Cincinnati Bengals or the formidable Kansas City Chiefs next week.

NFL Draft news and notes

Raiders draft strategy: With Las Vegas unlikely to land a top-two pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the team must explore alternative ways to address their quarterback situation. One viable option is trading up in the draft, targeting teams like New England, Jacksonville, or Carolina, who are unlikely to select a quarterback and may consider trading the second overall pick. This move would allow the Raiders to draft either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, depending on who the Giants select at No. 1. Alternatively, Las Vegas could look to free agency, with experienced quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold standing out as potential top-tier options.

Worthy starting to shine: The Chiefs invested the 28th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, and after a slow start to his rookie season, he’s beginning to show his star potential. In the team’s Christmas Day game against Pittsburgh, Worthy set a career-high with eight receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Beyond his receiving ability, Worthy has proven to be a versatile weapon, contributing out of the backfield with at least 10 rushing yards in each of his last three games. With his blazing 4.21 NFL Combine record speed, expect the Chiefs to rely on him even more in the playoffs.

"It was a little slow for the first four or five, six weeks, and then weeks 7, 8, 9, 10, you could sense it. You might not see it in the stat book, but you could sense it as a coach. You could sense it from watching tape, and now, all of a sudden, you naturally see more targets, you see more touches, you see more production."

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy on Xavier Worthy

Look for Houston to target wide receivers: Wide receiver is expected to be a key focus for the Houston Texans as they prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft. The team faces significant challenges at the position, with two of their top players, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, recovering from serious season-ending injuries. Additionally, several receivers, including Diggs, Diontae Johnson, and Robert Woods, are set to hit free agency at the end of the season. While it's unlikely Houston will prioritize a receiver in the first round, a dynamic playmaker like Oregon's Tez Johnson could be an ideal target on Day 2 of the draft.

Big red flag with Caleb Williams: One glaring issue is becoming increasingly apparent with Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams: his lack of pocket awareness. In Thursday night's loss to Seattle, Williams took at least two avoidable sacks when simply throwing the ball away would have been the better option. Additionally, he appeared hesitant while going through his reads, often failing to take what the defense gave him. This led to missed opportunities and inefficient decision-making. On the day, Williams completed only 57% of his passes for 122 yards with one interception. To say the least, Williams faces a critical offseason ahead. He needs to show significant improvement to justify the Bears' decision to select him with the number one overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.