By Adeniyi Precious 
The New York Giants are still searching for their quarterback of the future as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches. They signed veteran Jameis Winston in free agency, but that’s more of a short-term fix. Ideally, they’d grab a young QB in April’s draft.
However, picking third overall, the Giants are in a tough spot. With two QB-hungry teams ahead of them, there’s a real chance that the top two passers are off the board before they pick. So, what happens if their dream scenario falls apart?
Giants Pivot to Elite Pass Rusher in PFF’s Latest Mock Draft
In a recent mock draft from Pro Football Focus, Miami QB Cam Ward went first overall to the Titans, and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was snapped up by the Browns at No. 2. That left the Giants in a tricky spot: Do they reach for a lower-ranked quarterback or take the best talent available?
Instead of forcing a QB pick, PFF’s Josh Liskiewitz has them grabbing Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter. He compared Carter to Micah Parsons, calling him a rare athlete with All-Pro potential—if he can get even stronger.
Not exactly a bad consolation prize. Carter is a game-wrecking pass rusher who could take the Giants’ defense to another level in 2025.
Abdul Carter Could Be a Game-Changer for Big Blue
Scouts and analysts are raving about Carter’s freakish athleticism. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, he’s got the size, speed, and skills to dominate at the next level.
In 2024, Carter was a force of nature—leading the nation with 24 tackles for loss, racking up 12 sacks, 68 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four pass breakups. His 92.4 pass-rush grade from PFF was the second-highest among college edge defenders.
Would the Giants Actually Pull the Trigger on Carter?
The Giants already have Kayvon Thibodeaux, who they drafted fifth overall in 2022, and just gave Brian Burns a massive $141 million contract. So, do they really need another pass rusher?
Maybe not. But in the NFL, you can never have too many guys who can get after the quarterback. Carter has the potential to be a game-changer, and if the Giants believe he’s the best talent available, passing on him could be a mistake.
While QB remains a priority, this mock draft suggests the Giants might have to wait for their next franchise signal-caller. If that’s the case, at least they’d be adding a defensive stud to terrorize opposing offenses for years to come.