We are less than a week away from the 2025 NFL Draft, and all of Giants Nation is eager to see what Big Blue will do with the No. 3 pick. All the pressure in the world is on general manager Joe Schoen because if he doesn’t bring in the right guy and fans have to suffer through another disastrous season, he and head coach Brian Daboll are out the door.
Hopefully, Schoen carries the momentum from the 2024 draft—because that one was near perfect. And fans could use another masterclass, considering they’re no strangers to watching the front office miss… big.
Honorable Mention: 2024
This was a pretty perfect draft for the Giants’ front office. Fans saw Malik Nabers, Tyler Nubin, and Andru Phillips all become impact players right away. Even Theo Johnson and Tyrone Tracy Jr. showed serious flashes once they got healthy and earned playing time.
The only guys you could maybe question were Bucky Irving or Malik Mustapha instead of Theo Johnson in the fourth. There’s also a case for Joe Milton in the sixth, but let’s be honest—everyone passed on him multiple times. You can’t imagine the Giants regret that one much.
Now, onto the main event.
4. Josh Downs, WR (2023)
In the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Giants selected Jalin Hyatt. The Tennessee receiver was supposed to come in, take the top off the defense, and be a game-changer for the receiving corps. None of that has happened. Hyatt has just 31 receptions, fewer than 500 yards, and no touchdowns in two years. His targets dropped from 40 as a rookie to 19 in 2024. The game-changer the Giants thought they were getting has barely even been part of the team.
Hyatt was taken with the 73rd overall pick. Just six spots later, at No. 79, the Colts grabbed Josh Downs. In that same span, Downs has 140 catches for 1,500+ yards and seven touchdowns. He’s exactly what the Giants thought they were drafting in Hyatt, and unfortunately, they chose wrong. Downs may not be a household name, but he’s miles ahead of what the Giants got.
Also—before anyone brings up De’Von Achane—it’s worth remembering we all thought Saquon Barkley was going to be in blue and white forever.
3. George Pickens, WR (2022)
The 2022 draft was a rollercoaster for the G-Men. They had some hits like Kayvon Thibodeaux, found a few diamonds in the rough like Micah McFadden… and had an all-time bust (we’ll get to that).
The later rounds are always tough to judge, but in Round 2, the Giants clearly chose wrong. Wan’Dale Robinson has been solid—he’s become what they thought they were getting with Kadarius Toney (yikes)—but he’s no George Pickens.
Pickens was taken nine picks after Robinson. Had the Giants taken him instead, we could be looking at one of the league’s best wide receiver duos with Pickens and Nabers. Sure, the attitudes might drive everyone nuts—but the talent is undeniable. In three seasons, Pickens has 174 catches, over 2,000 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He could’ve been the No. 1 receiver the Giants were begging for long before Nabers arrived.
2. Kyle Hamilton, S (2022)
Let’s be honest—you knew this one was coming. When you clicked on this headline, you were already thinking: “Man, I wish we had X instead of Evan Neal.”
That X could be debated, but whoever it is, it’s not Evan Neal.
Neal was supposed to be the guy. Projected as not just the best lineman in the draft, but a future All-Pro. Instead, he struggled. Then he got mad at fans for being mad about it. Then he kept struggling.
Seeing the names taken after him hurts the soul—Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Jordan Davis… and then at No. 14, the Baltimore Ravens took Kyle Hamilton. Since then, Hamilton has become arguably the best player in the draft, the best safety in the league, and one of the best overall players in the NFL. He’s already a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler—and he just turned 24.
The Giants could’ve taken him at No. 7 and secured the cornerstone of their defense. Instead, they whiffed—again—on another offensive lineman. Go figure.
1. Micah Parsons, Edge (2021)
In 2021, the Giants looked primed to grab Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, or DeVonta Smith with the No. 11 pick. Then, in classic Giants fashion, Philadelphia swooped in to snag the last one (Smith), and New York traded down.
That trade-down became one of the worst decisions of the decade. The Giants moved back to No. 20 and took Kadarius Toney. The Cowboys, sitting in between, took Micah Parsons. Parsons has literally said he wants to destroy the Giants every time he plays them because of that. Even better? He plays for the Cowboys. Twice a year. Every year.
In four seasons, Parsons is a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and already has 50+ career sacks. He’s posted double-digit sacks every year of his career. That’s an all-time miss for Big Blue—and they get to be reminded of it twice a season.