The New York Giants entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a clear identity in mind: toughness, versatility, and upside. After an offseason heavy on defensive additions, General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll finished draft weekend energized, confident that they had added the “right DNA” to their roster.
“I’m excited to see how this team comes together,” Schoen said. “I like the makeup of the players. I’m confident in the coaching staff, and I’m excited for the 2025 season.”
The Giants selected eight players in total, headlined by quarterback Jaxson Dart, linebacker Abdul Carter, and defensive tackle Darius Alexander. They rounded out their class with gritty, athletic prospects like Cam Skattebo, Marcus Mbow, Thomas Fidone, and Korie Black, targeting not just talent but mental and physical toughness across the board.
“We always add that element,” Daboll emphasized. “Mentally, the challenges that go with playing professional football and playing in New York, quite frankly, and toughness on the field. I think we did that in free agency and we did that in the draft.”
Jaxson Dart: The Quarterback of the Future
The Giants made a bold move on Thursday night, trading back into the first round to grab Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. The move capped an exhaustive quarterback search that Schoen said began “as far back as last May.”
“I’m fired up to have Jaxson Dart as part of the organization,” Schoen said. “He’s tough, makes good decisions, pushes the ball down the field, and played in a really tough conference.”
Dart, for his part, embraced the spotlight. “As a competitor, you want to play on the biggest stages,” he said. “You want to play in front of the most passionate fans. I just feel like I’m built for it.”
“The process of developing a quarterback is just that: a process,” Daboll added. “We’re going to bring him along the right way.”
Dart’s connection with the Manning family, particularly Eli Manning, further inspired the Giants’ confidence. “I’m going to lean on Eli,” Dart said. “I’d be a fool not to.”
Abdul Carter: A Savage for the Front Seven
In the first round, the Giants also addressed the defense by selecting Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter. Projected by many as one of the top defensive talents in the draft, Carter brings explosiveness, versatility, and swagger to New York.
“I’m an exciting player, a fun player,” Carter said. “I like to get the crowd hyped on 3rd downs, get my best pass rush, make big plays. I’m bringing 100 percent effort, my energy, everything.”
The Giants love Carter’s toughness — a trait they aggressively targeted.
“Physicality is contagious,” Daboll said. “Abdul embodies that.”
Carter, who idolizes Giants legend Lawrence Taylor, said, “He’s the greatest defensive player of all time. I just want to chase greatness.”
“You have to be tough to play in New York,” Schoen added. “Carter fits exactly what we’re trying to build.”
Darius Alexander: The Underrated Gem
In the third round, New York bolstered the defensive line with Toledo’s Darius Alexander, a 3-technique who dominated the Senior Bowl and earned rave reviews from defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
“Freaky athletic,” Schoen said of Alexander. “He’s just under 6’4″, 315 pounds, 34-inch arms. High ceiling.”
Alexander’s loyalty to Toledo over transfer opportunities spoke volumes.
“My last six years there mean everything to me,” Alexander said. “I’d never trade it for anything in the world.”
He’ll join a deep, physical defensive front featuring Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Roy Robertson-Harris.
“I think I fit in great,” Alexander said. “I think I’m a savage myself.”
Patterson’s belief in Alexander’s upside was a driving force behind the pick. “Coach Dre said if he could get his hands on me, he would. And he did,” Alexander said.
Building Depth: Skattebo, Mbow, Fidone, and Black
Saturday saw the Giants continue to hammer toughness and athleticism.
Cam Skattebo (RB, Arizona State)
The fourth-round pick fits the Giants’ smashmouth identity perfectly. A thick, powerful runner with excellent hands, Skattebo was one of the team’s favorite players in the draft.
“He plays with great contact balance. He’s tough as nails,” Daboll said. “He’s got very good vision and quick feet.”
For Skattebo, who had no FBS offers coming out of high school, the moment was emotional.
“I’ve worked all my life for this,” he said. “The Giants believe in me, and I’m going to believe in them.”
Asked if he brings a chip on his shoulder, Skattebo smiled: “Absolutely. Every day.”
Marcus Mbow (OL, Purdue)
Mbow was a steal in the fifth round — a player the Giants nearly took earlier. Versatile enough to play tackle or guard (and even working on snapping at center), Mbow brings athleticism and a nasty demeanor.
“Putting people on the ground, demoralizing people — it’s part of the reason I love the game,” Mbow said.
Schoen admitted he was surprised Mbow was still available. “Sometimes you get lucky,” he said.
Thomas Fidone (TE, Nebraska)
The seventh-round tight end comes with an injury history (two ACL tears) but also massive upside.
“There’s some untapped potential there,” Schoen said.
Fidone, who starred in his final college game at Yankee Stadium, brings a physical, competitive edge to the tight end room.
“They’re getting an athlete,” Fidone said. “Someone who can do it all: block, catch, and compete every day.”
Korie Black (CB, Oklahoma State)
Black, a 4.3-speed corner, adds size, athleticism, and special teams prowess.
“He’s a tough kid, good tackler,” Schoen said.
Black described his visit to New York as “eye-opening” and said, “The Giants just felt like family.”
Identity and Philosophy
Throughout the draft process, toughness was a recurring theme. Schoen and Daboll spoke often about building a roster that could withstand the physical and mental challenges of NFL life, especially under the New York microscope.
“Until we go out and do it, it’s just on paper,” Schoen cautioned. “But I like the players we added. I like the makeup.”
This draft continued a broader offseason effort to reinforce the front seven, adding Carter, Alexander, and free agent veterans like Burns and Robertson-Harris.
“There’s a lot of depth there,” Schoen said. “I’m excited about the group.”
The Giants also valued versatility, selecting players who can impact multiple spots — from Mbow’s flexibility across the offensive line, to Carter’s ability to rush inside and out, to Alexander’s disruptive athleticism.
And they added a new potential franchise quarterback, a player Schoen and Daboll were clearly enamored with.
“He’s tough, he’s competitive, he’s wired the right way,” Schoen said of Dart. “He’s going to keep getting up and competing.”
Daboll added, “We’re not rushing anything. We’re building this the right way, with the right people.”
Final Thoughts
The Giants’ 2025 draft class wasn’t just about filling holes; it was about shaping the soul of the team.
“Our guys are wired the right way,” Schoen said. “They’re tough, they’re smart, they love the game. Now it’s about coming together, setting the standard, and holding each other to it.”
Daboll summed it up simply: “The real work begins now.”
With the 2025 draft class setting a tone of toughness and togetherness, the New York Giants believe they have laid the foundation for a brighter, more competitive future.
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