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Giants Now: Mel Kiper Jr.'s first 2025 mock draft

Jan 23, 2025 at 06:00 AM

Matt Citak

Digital Media Coordinator

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. releases first 2025 mock draft

The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off exactly three months from tomorrow.

While we are still at the beginning of the pre-draft process, many draft pundits are already beginning to release their early projections. The latest to do so is ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., one of the biggest names in the draft community.

With the third overall pick in his first mock draft of the year, Kiper predicts the Giants select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

"This is the best-case scenario for the Giants," wrote Kiper. "Their Week 17 win over the Colts slid them to No. 3, and now finding a new QB1 in the first round isn't guaranteed. But Daniel Jones is gone and Drew Lock is a free agent, so the Giants have to do something to clean up one of the worst passing games in the league. New York will be weighing all options, and it might ultimately be forced to trade up into the top two to get its guy. But here, Sanders falls into the Giants' lap without any extra moves.

"Sanders is super accurate, completing 74% of his throws this season. He could step in right away and lift the entire offense, including standout 2024 first-rounder Malik Nabers."

Sanders began his collegiate career at Jackson State, where he played for two years and was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2021 and the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.

The talented young quarterback then transferred to Colorado, where he put together back-to-back strong campaigns for the Buffaloes.

Sanders completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions across 11 games as a junior in 2023. This past season, he completed an impressive 74.0 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

His 2024 performance led to him being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in addition to being selected as the recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation's top upperclassman quarterback.

Here are Kiper's predictions for the first five picks in this year's draft.

Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
New York Giants - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
New England Patriots - Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State
Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

1 / 90

2 / 90

QB Drake Maye - New England Patriots (2024)

3 / 90

DE Will Anderson Jr. - Houston Texans (2023)

4 / 90

CB Derek Stingley Jr. - Houston Texans (2022)

5 / 90

QB Trey Lance - San Francisco 49ers (2021)

6 / 90

CB Jeff Okudah - Detroit Lions (2020)

7 / 90

DT Quinnen Williams - New York Jets (2019)

8 / 90

QB Sam Darnold - New York Jets (2018)

9 / 90

DE Solomon Thomas - San Francisco 49ers (2017)

10 / 90

DE Joey Bosa - San Diego Chargers (2016)

11 / 90

DE Dante Fowler Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars (2015)

12 / 90

QB Blake Bortles - Jacksonville Jaguars (2014)

13 / 90

DE Dion Jordan - Miami Dolphins (2013)

14 / 90

RB Trent Richardson - Cleveland Browns (2012)

15 / 90

DT Marcell Dareus - Buffalo Bills (2011)

16 / 90

DT Gerald McCoy - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010)

17 / 90

DE Tyson Jackson - Kansas City Chiefs (2009)

18 / 90

QB Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons (2008)

19 / 90

T Joe Thomas - Cleveland Browns (2007)

20 / 90

QB Vince Young - Tennessee Titans (2006)

21 / 90

WR Braylon Edwards - Cleveland Browns (2005)

22 / 90

WR Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals (2004)

23 / 90

WR Andre Johnson - Houston Texans (2003)

24 / 90

QB Joey Harrington - Detroit Lions (2002)

25 / 90

DT Gerard Warren - Cleveland Browns (2001)

26 / 90

T Chris Samuels - Washington Redskins (2000)

27 / 90

QB Akili Smith - Cincinnati Bengals (1999)

28 / 90

DE Andre Wadsworth - Arizona Cardinals (1998)

29 / 90

CB Shawn Springs - Seattle Seahawks (1997)

30 / 90

DE Simeon Rice - Arizona Cardinals (1996)

31 / 90

QB Steve McNair - Houston Oilers (1995)

32 / 90

QB Heath Shuler - Washington Redskins (1994)

33 / 90

RB Garrison Hearst - Phoenix Cardinals (1993)

34 / 90

DT Sean Gilbert - Los Angeles Rams (1992)

35 / 90

CB Bruce Pickens - Atlanta Falcons (1991)

36 / 90

DT Cortez Kennedy - Seattle Seahawks (1990)

37 / 90

RB Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions (1989)

38 / 90

S Bennie Blades - Detroit Lions (1988)

39 / 90

RB Alonzo Highsmith - Houston Oilers (1987)

40 / 90

QB Jim Everett - Houston Oilers (1986)

41 / 90

DT Ray Childress - Houston Oilers (1985)

42 / 90

LB Carl Banks - New York Giants (1984)

43 / 90

RB Curt Warner - Seattle Seahawks (1983)

44 / 90

LB Chip Banks - Cleveland Browns (1982)

45 / 90

RB Freeman McNeil - New York Jets (1981)

46 / 90

T Anthony Munoz - Cincinnati Bengals (1980)

47 / 90

QB Jack Thompson - Cincinnati Bengals (1979)

48 / 90

WR Wes Chandler - New Orleans Saints (1978)

49 / 90

DT Eddie Edwards - Cincinnati Bengals (1977)

50 / 90

RB Chuck Muncie - New Orleans Saints (1976)

51 / 90

G Ken Huff - Baltimore Colts (1975)

52 / 90

G John Hicks - New York Giants (1974)

53 / 90

T Jerry Sisemore - Philadelphia Eagles (1973)

54 / 90

T Lionel Antoine - Chicago Bears (1972)

55 / 90

QB Dan Pastorini - Houston Oilers (1971)

56 / 90

QB Mike Phipps - Cleveland Browns (1970)

57 / 90

RB Leroy Keyes - Philadelphia Eagles (1969)

58 / 90

DE Claude Humphrey - Atlanta Falcons (1968)

59 / 90

QB Steve Spurrier - San Francisco 49ers (1967)

60 / 90

RB Dick Leftridge - Pittsburgh Steelers (1966)

61 / 90

LB Dick Butkus - Chicago Bears (1965)

62 / 90

WR Charley Taylor - Washington Redskins (1964)

63 / 90

DT Jim Dunaway - Minnesota Vikings (1963)

64 / 90

DT Merlin Olsen - Los Angeles Rams (1962)

65 / 90

DT Joe Rutgens - Washington Redskins (1961)

66 / 90

DB Johnny Robinson - Detroit Lions (1960)

67 / 90

DB Billy Stacy - Chicago Cardinals (1959)

68 / 90

LB Dan Currie - Green Bay Packers (1958)

69 / 90

QB John Brodie - San Francisco 49ers (1957)

70 / 90

RB Hopalong Cassady - Detroit Lions (1956)

71 / 90

RB Alan Ameche - Baltimore Colts (1955)

72 / 90

C Art Hunter - Green Bay Packers (1954)

73 / 90

QB Jack Scarbath - Washington Redskins (1953)

74 / 90

RB Ollie Matson - Chicago Cardinals (1952)

75 / 90

QB Y.A. Tittle - San Francisco 49ers (Colts disbanded after 1950 season, the players were made eligible for draft along with college seniors. Tittle was the No. 1 choice - 3rd overall - of 49ers in 1951.)

Clarence Hamm