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2025 NFL Draft

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Experts grade Giants' Round 1 picks

ABDUL-CARTER

The Giants added one of the best players in the draft Thursday night with the selection of Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

The NFL world, including several of Carter's new teammates, took to social media to share their excitement about the pick.

The Giants then traded with the Houston Texans, moving up to No. 25 in order to take Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Before we get into what NFL analysts are saying, here are the Giants' remaining draft picks:

2025 New York Giants Draft Order:

  • Round 1 – No. 3: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
  • Round 1 - No. 25 (from Houston): Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
  • Round 3 – No. 65
  • Round 4 – No. 105
  • Round 5 – No. 154 (from Seattle)
  • Round 7 – No. 219
  • Round 7 – No. 246 (from Buffalo)

View photos of Giants' first-round pick Abdul Carter at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

Round 1, Pick 3 - Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Grade: A+

"The Giants pass on the available quarterbacks here and take the best player on the board instead. I like it. Carter is a twitched-up, explosive pass rusher with excellent bend and burst. Dropping him beside Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux will help the Giants field one of the best defensive fronts in the league."

Grade: A

"Carter was a relentless edge rusher at Penn State, and he'll fit in with Brian Burns in the Giants' 3-4 defense. He also should push Kayvon Thibodeaux for snaps — and perhaps for a starting role. Carter shifted from linebacker to edge last year at Penn State and became an 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 dominated. That injury prevented him from combine testing, but his toughness trumps whatever numbers he forfeited in Indianapolis."

Grade: Elite

"The Giants added enough at quarterback in free agency with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to give them the freedom to take one of the few obvious blue-chip talents in this draft. Carter's 66 quarterback pressures ranked second in the FBS in his first season as a full-time edge rusher in 2024. He now joins a Giants defensive front that already features several impact players in Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns."

Grade: A

"They had to pass on quarterback to take the best pass rusher in the draft. When the Giants won Super Bowls, they rushed the passer. Carter adds to talent up front. They can wait on the quarterback."

Grade: A

"Along with Hunter, many evaluators in the league believe Carter is the best prospect in the draft. He was a menace for the Nittany Lions, totaling a nation-high 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks while earning first-team All-American status. At 6' 3" and 250 pounds, Carter has the size, speed and pass-rush tools to be a Day 1 star."

Grade: A

"The Giants didn't address one of their many offensive needs, but it's hard to be disappointed when they opted for the best overall player."

View the top photos from edge rusher Abdul Carter's career at Penn State.

Grade: A

"Big Blue's pick seemed to be trending this way for some time, but it still feels a bit strange to see the team exhibit some restraint around quarterback considerations given the desperation that has colored the rest of the offseason plans for the position. In terms of maximizing pure value, there was no real alternative to Carter at this slot. An absolute wrecking ball off the edge, the 6-2, 250-pounder offers a Pro Bowl-caliber package of athletic tools that he should wield even more comfortably as he grows more accustomed to full-time work rushing off the edge. File the question of how New York will utilize its newest disruptor alongside Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux under the category of good problems to have."

Grade: A

"A year ago, the Giants made a big play for Brian Burns to inject some life into their pass rush. With Carter playing opposite Burns and Dexter Lawrence wrecking the middle of an offensive line, New York's old identity is new again. The G-Men will be built around a mega-talented defensive front."

Grade: A-

"The perfect "finisher" to cap a dominant Giants defensive front, Carter is an obvious Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate."

Grade: B+

"This pick gives the Giants one of the fiercest pass rushes in the league and puts Abdul Carter with star defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns. If the Giants' cornerback play can improve this year, this could be one of the most improved defenses in the league. The presence of Lawrence, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux will give Carter some great matchups to wreak havoc as a rookie. Perhaps the Giants could've gone offensive line here, but Carter's upside as a pass rusher, in that front seven, is hard to turn down."

"I love this pick because the Giants are always at their best when led by their defense. Carter is an exceptional disruptor off the edge thanks to his elite get off and explosiveness. Putting him on a defensive line alongside Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux allows the G-Men to send multiple pass rushers after the quarterback on a regular basis."

"The Giants' biggest need isn't at defensive end, but having a strong pass rush is increasingly important. Carter can see the field on early downs as an off-ball linebacker and move to a pass rusher role on third down, similar to how the Cowboys used Micah Parsons during his rookie season. That's the ceiling for Carter, who is the most pro-ready player in this class."

Round 1, Pick 25 (from Houston) - Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi

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 at No. 3, the Giants picked the best player available there, then traded back into the first round to grab Dart. With veterans Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in the building, New York has a buffer to ensure that Dart won't get overwhelmed on day one."

Grade: B+

"I like the Giants' aggression with this move. Dart has everything needed to become a star quarterback in the NFL, except experience in a pro-style attack. He possesses a strong, accurate arm with good touch on the deep ball, agility, power and grit as a runner and the leadership skills expected at quarterback...The Giants are one of the better fits for Dart given the presence of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. As such, Dart won't be rushed onto the field and can develop at his own pace."

"With Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston entrenched atop the depth chart, the Giants are good at quarterback for 2025 -- but they need an answer for the future. Dart gets time to develop behind the veterans. And with his physical tools as a deep-ball thrower and as a runner, he's the best fit of any remaining quarterbacks in the class for Brian Daboll's offense."

"Brian Daboll is a QB guru who had tremendous success with Josh Allen in Buffalo and seeks a quarterback with similar athleticism and play-making ability. Dart has the traits to play in an offense that features not only traditional dropback passes but movement-based concepts."

"Dart's timing and touch are impressive on passes thrown 10-19 yards from the pocket. He anticipates well and gets the ball out as receivers are making their breaks. He stands in and takes big hits to make plays. Dart extends plays, keeps his eyes downfield as he climbs the pocket and completes off-platform throws. Dart rushed for 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons at Ole Miss. His quickness, toughness and ability to make defenders miss allow him to be an effective scrambler or threat on designed quarterback runs."

View photos from quarterback Jaxson Dart's collegiate career at Mississippi and USC.

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