After a night filled with surprises, the Giants made it out of night one of the 2025 NFL Draft with not one, but two crucial picks. After much speculation that the Giants might trade down from their third overall pick the Giants did exactly the opposite by utilizing their third overall pick and trading up to 25. With the Giants third overall they picked up Abdul Carter and later in the round selected Jaxson Dart with the 25th. With that being said lets get to know the newest wearing Big Blue.
Abdul Carter
The 6-foot-3, 251 lb defensive end is a nightmare for defenses as demonstrated during his time with Penn State. The Philadelphia native in three seasons for the Nittany Lions recorded 172 total tackles (104 solo), 41 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, and one interception. In the 2024 season alone Carter had 68 tackles (43 solo), 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. With his performance in 2024 Carter earned the honors of Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Consensus All-America (Unanimous).
ABDUL CARTER IS A NEW YORK GIANT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sOkmcJOC9x
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 25, 2025
The addition of Carter to an existing defensive front in Brian Burns, Dexter Lawerence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux has got to get the league and NFC East opponents especially scared for what is to come from the G-men. Carter is extremely athletic and brings a powerful force to an already touch pass rush.
Abdul Carter taking over in the playoffs against Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/bncgDFQlL7
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) April 25, 2025
Jaxson Dart
The 6-foot-2 225 lb Quarterback is about as mobile as they come as shown during his time at both the University of Southern California (USC) and Ole Miss. The Utah native in one season for the Trojans and three for the Rebels in the air had a completion percentage of 65.2%, 11,970 yards, 81 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. On the ground he recorded 1,541 yards and 14 touchdowns off 393 attempts.
In his senior year at Ole Miss Dart in the air recorded 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, six interceptions and a completion percentage of 69.3%. On the ground he had 495 yards, three touchdowns off 124 attempts.
Giants QB Jaxson Dart highlights pic.twitter.com/l6tkjK0Dg2
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) April 25, 2025
While the addition of Dart might be a bit surprising since the Giants signed QBs Russel Wilson and Jameis Winston in the offseason, Dart is being pitched as the next Giant franchise quarterback. With two veteran QBs to learn and sit under there was no time like the present to invest in the future. Dart is extremely mobile with his legs making him a dual threat in the air and on the ground that the Giants want in their QB.
What’s Next?
While the Giants were very active on night one it will be interesting to see how they continue to be throughout rounds 2-7. The Giants gave up their 34th and 99th overall pick for Jaxson Dart so unless the Giants make some more trades they are left with picks 65, 105, 154, 219 and 246. Expect the Giants to look to get more lineman, wide receivers, corner backs and maybe even a tight end if the stock is still good.
