Passing on Shedeur Sanders? 3 likeliest quarterbacks the New York Giants could target in the second round of 2025 NFL Draft
Finding a quarterback in the NFL Draft is about as daunting of a task as you can find for a general manager. And New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen could save his job long-term by doing it. The only problem is, he's been dealt a bad hand with this year's rookie class. If last […]
Finding a quarterback in the NFL Draft is about as daunting of a task as you can find for a general manager. And New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen could save his job long-term by doing it.
The only problem is, he's been dealt a bad hand with this year's rookie class. If last year's crop made up of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels was the equivalent to pocket aces in Texas Hold 'Em, this year's is closer to pocket fives, a hand filled with speculation as picking Shedeur Sanders might be too rich for the No. 3 overall pick. But then again, who else can they bet on for the long run?
As such, even with the latest NFL Draft insight pointing toward the Cleveland Browns passing on Sanders at No. 2, multiple insiders have suggested the Giants could wait until Round 2 to pick a signal caller.
Below, I've ranked the three quarterbacks the Giants could draft in the second round in order of who's the likeliest pick. For this exercise, I factored in the likelihood of them being on the board, expected draft position, and ranking as a prospect. I also added Ryan Roberts' grades and scouting thoughts on each prospect from his full quarterback rankings. Let's dive in.
1, Jalen Milroe, Alabama
- Ryan Fowler's draft grade: Late 3rd round
- A to Z Sports' expected draft position: 48 (2nd round)
Barring any major surprise, Milroe should be available when the Giants go on the clock at 34th overall. The Alabama product didn't end his college football career on his terms but his arm strength and dual-threat ability is enough to get NFL teams excited about his future. Luckily for Joe Schoen and Co., with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston already on board, there will be no rush to throw Milroe onto the field.
Milroe will have to overcome hands smaller than the average quarterback, which seems relevant considering his 16 career fumbles.
Roberts' take: Early in the 2024 season, it looked like Milroe could have challenged to be the top quarterback off the board in April. His back half of the season ended up being a disaster, and it became unclear if Milroe would opt to return for one more season. A team that drafts Milroe is going to have to be patient with him. He is an outstanding athlete with clear NFL skills. The fit will matter most. There is still a lot of upside on the table, but Milroe’s floor is scary low.
2. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
- Ryan Fowler's draft grade: Late 3rd / Early 4th round
- A to Z Sports' expected draft position: 39th (2nd round)
Dart's draft range seems to be everywhere between the Top 10 picks of the Draft and the second. A to Z Sports' Destin Adams recently mocked him to the New Orleans Saints at ninth overall. So yes, there's a chance he's not there when the Giants pick at 34th and there's the obvious threat of Cleveland picking ahead of them at 33. That's why he's not ranked at the top.
But if both he and Milroe were there, I'd bet the Giants would pick Dart just because of his higher floor.
Roberts' take: Some love Dart, while others have major concerns. I am somewhere in between. Dart is a good athlete, fearless in the pocket, and has been very productive. He also has a below average arm, and is consistently late on his reads. A team is going to have to speed up Dart’s process a good bit, which is troubling. Having a late processor with an underwhelming arm sounds like a recipe for disaster.
3. Tyler Shough, Louisville
- Ryan Fowler's draft grade: Late 3rd / Early 4th round
- A to Z Sports' expected draft position: 102 (3rd round)
Shough appears to be the cut-off point between Day 2 quarterbacks and Day 3 and the reason is his athleticism. He's got the tools needed to play in the NFL. However, he will be 26 years old in September and has a injury history that will turn off front offices.
Roberts' take: If Shough wasn’t an older prospect with durability concerns, there is a strong chance he could be in the first round conversation right now. Shough boasts a huge frame, live arm, and is a good athlete as well. Despite his age, Shough still hasn’t played a ton of football. There is still some developmental upside but Shough will have to be fast tracked if he has a starting window.
