There's a realistic possibility that Shedeur Sanders is the best quarterback available when the New York Giants go on the clock next April. If that's the case, they probably should pick him. And not as a marketing ploy to sell tickets and Sanders uniforms or draw more media attention to a team seemingly in prime time every other week regardless of record.
Sanders will, of course, have to be vetted from a maturity standpoint by the Giants -- and all clubs in the quarterback market during the 2025 draft cycle -- but on the field, he's looking more and more like one of the two best passers available in the class.
And after relentlessly attempting to move into the No. 3 spot to -- presumably -- select Drake Maye last April, it's now a must for the Giants to come out of the first round of the 2025 draft with a quarterback.
While many would scoff at the idea of Sanders in the bright and oftentimes harsh spotlight of New York, from a football angle, it absolutely could work, because a refined passer with some athletic juice is precisely what the Giants need and that's what Sanders is. Daniel Jones wasn't quite as dismal as almost everyone thought when he was selected by the G-Men at No. 6 overall in 2019, but he's clearly not the long-term answer for this storied franchise.
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In this mock, Sanders begins what is sure to be a high-profile NFL journey with the Giants as the club turns the page at the game's most vital position.
The draft order below was determined using the current 2025 NFL Draft order. To check out the betting odds on who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, head on over to BetMGM.
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NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Travis Hunter
ATH
Colorado
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 185 lbs
Hunter is the best player in college football with serious two-way abilities. This would be a boon for a Panthers organization in desperate need of an enormous jolt.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
In this scenario, the Titans punt on the Will Levis experiment before Year 3 and take a quarterback in Ward who can play outside of structure but is lightyears more calm, cool, and collected than the passer he'd be replacing.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
The Patriots have to add youthful talent to the receiver group for Drake Maye, who's demonstrating encouraging signs early in his rookie season. McMillan is a stud ball winner at the catch point.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
The Jets have to continue to bolster the offensive front for Aaron Rodgers, and Campbell is looking like the best tackle in this class.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
The Jaguars have to get more dynamic talent in the cornerback room -- even after recently extending Tyson Campbell -- and Johnson can be that type of add.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
The Saints build for the future with the uber-talented but raw Williams on the edge to eventually replace Saints legend Cam Jordan.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
Graham is having yet another productive season at Michigan and plays with his hair on fire every snap. The Raiders add another upfield rusher next to Christian Wilkins.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
The Browns can't really move off the Deshaun Watson deal, so in this mock, they go with a receiver because that position needs an upgrade, too. Egbuka is super polished.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
How about Sanders in the New York City media market? Fun, right? The Giants need to draft a quarterback, and Sanders is increasingly looking like the most NFL-ready passer in this class.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
The Dolphins pick Starks to pair with Jevon Holland to formulate a studly duo at safety for a long time.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Jalon Walker
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 245 lbs
Joe Burrow is playing elite-level football. The Bengals defense? Not so much. Walker is the latest multi-dimensional defender from Georgia who can cover and rush the passer on the edge.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Jalen Milroe
QB
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
Here's a curveball: Sean McVay gets a raw, uber-talented athlete at the quarterback spot he can mold inside his intricate system.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
I will be surprised if the Cowboys do not leave the first round without Jeanty as their pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
The Colts get Anthony Richardson -- whom I don't believe they'll quit on this quickly -- the best all-around tight end in the 2025 class.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
The Buccaneers plan for the future at receiver with the springy Bond who can win downfield with scintillating speed.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
Here, the Seahawks are willing to wait for Perkins to nurse his way back to 100% health. Because when he's healthy, he's a jack of all trades with incredible athletic gifts.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
Scourton has played to his potential this season at Texas A&M after a breakout season at Purdue in 2023. He can win on the outside or against squatty guards as an interior rusher.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Princely Umanmielen
EDGE
Ole Miss
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 255 lbs
Umanmielen was awesome at Florida before starring at Ole Miss. He has the athleticism and strength to hit the ground running in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
LT Overton
DL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 283 lbs
The Cardinals get a serious pass-rushing threat on the outside in Overton, a budding star at Alabama. This is exactly what Jonathan Gannon's defense needs.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
Sawyer looks NFL ready with a sizable frame and plenty of productivity over the past two seasons at Ohio State.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Donovan Ezeiruaku
EDGE
Boston College
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 247 lbs
The Falcons have needed a true No. 1 outside rusher for seemingly forever, and this ascending Boston College rusher would be the latest roll of the dice for Atlanta at that spot on the defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
The Broncos have to construct a quality receiver room around Bo Nix, and Burden has felt like a first-round pick since his first season at Missouri.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
East Carolina
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 193 lbs
The Ravens aren't afraid to pick players entering the NFL with an injury, which is the case with this standout East Carolina cornerback.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
Carter is a dual-threat front-seven weapon the Eagles would love to add to their defense, given the fact that Nolan Smith has yet to really hit his stride.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
The Vikings plan for the future at offensive tackle with Banks, who also could serve as a guard to begin his career.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
Pearce is another specimen the Bills would love to insert onto the edges of their defensive front to continue to build the pass-rushing contingent.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Jalen Royals
WR
Utah State
• Sr
• 6'0"
/ 205 lbs
The Steelers don't wait until Round 2 to select a receiver, instead jumping at the opportunity to pick the sturdy-framed Royals, who's been a consistent big-play threat for the Aggies.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Deone Walker
DL
Kentucky
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 345 lbs
The Packers add an enormous and athletic defensive tackle to make life easier for Rashan Gary and Co. on the outside.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 339 lbs
Grant is a non-stop motor type on the interior and would instantly improve Washington's inside defensive line group.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
T.J. Sanders
DL
South Carolina
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 290 lbs
The Texans have to get more beef and pass-rushing juice on the interior of their defensive front. They get it with Sanders, who has starred on a loaded South Carolina defensive line this season.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Iowa State
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 215 lbs
Higgins is a big-bodied weapon from Iowa State. The Lions could use more perimeter talent in their receiver room.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Morrison's season was cut short due to injury, which could lead to this slide. The Chiefs love their young cornerbacks but would love to add more to the secondary.
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