The Giants nabbed their two biggest needs in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, picking up defensive game-wrecker Abdul Carter before trading up to snag Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart.
It headlined a busy few days for Big Blue, which is looking to right the wrongs of a 3-14 debacle last season. Let’s take a look at some of their top draft picks.
Abdul Carter (DE, Penn State) Round 1, No. 3
Carter is regarded as a generational talent who screams off the edge, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. In addition to his elite pass-rush package, he can disrupt a run game.
The 6-foot-3 junior had a stellar 2024 breakout season at Penn State. Carter recorded 12 sacks, 68 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and four passes defended.
Carter will fly off the edge with Brian Burnes and Kayvon Thibodeaux, along with inside pressure from one of the game’s best interior defensive linemen in Dexter Lawrence.
Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss) Round 1, No. 25
New York acquired the Houston Texans’ No. 25 overall pick at the 2025 NFL Draft for pick Nos. 34, 99, and a third-rounder in 2026 to add another quarterback to their room alongside Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Tommy DeVito.
Dart burst onto the scene after his 2024 campaign, throwing for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He completed 69.3% of his passes and rushed for an additional 495 yards and four touchdowns.
The 21-year-old is raw, but he’ll gain experience and knowledge from one very successful passer and one who’s fulfilled multiple roles during his NFL career.
Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo) Round 3 No. 65
Alexander is going to dominate in the run game, especially alongside Dexter Lawrence. In 2024, the 6-foot-4, 310 lb nose tackle played 630 snaps and recorded four sacks, eight quarterback hits, 25 hurries, and three batted passes.
He’s not going to sack the quarterback 15-plus times like Aaron Donald or Chris Jones, but he’s going to make an opposing running back’s life miserable. In addition to his solid defensive stats a season ago, he also added eight tackles for a loss.
