Now that the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, the general feeling from the New York Giants fanbase is much different. Dare we say—one of positivity and hope.
A lot of draft experts and analysts gave the Giants high marks following their selections this past weekend. Some have even said the Giants may have had one of—if not the—best drafts in Green Bay.
With the draft class now set, along with their undrafted free agent signings and rookie minicamp invites, the roster will slowly start to take shape ahead of the 2025 season.
While some players are in line for expanded roles and more playing time, others might not be so fortunate. Some could see their reps dwindle—or even get handed a pink slip by the end of the summer. Training camp begins with 90 players, but only 53 can stick around. There’s only so much room on the depth chart.
With that said, who came out of the 2025 NFL Draft looking good for the Giants—and who didn’t?
4 winners & 4 losers from Giants' 2025 NFL Draft
Winner: Joe Schoen
Let’s start with the man in charge of it all. Giants general manager Joe Schoen entered this draft under pressure—and many now believe he delivered. With Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll both considered to be on the hot seat entering the 2025 season, having a strong draft class was essential. And by most accounts, Schoen nailed it.
Landing Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter—considered by many to be the best overall player in the draft—was a massive win. The expectation is that Carter will give an already strong pass rush even more juice alongside Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns.
Schoen also finally addressed the quarterback position for the future. After four drafts without drafting a QB, he traded back into the first round—sending pick No. 99 to the Texans—to land Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall. Dart had been frequently mocked to the Giants in the lead-up to the draft.
On top of those headline picks, Schoen added other highly-discussed prospects like Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, Purdue offensive lineman Marcus Mbow, and Toledo defensive lineman Darius Alexander. All were popular mock draft targets for the Giants heading into the weekend.
Some of Schoen’s earlier draft classes have come under fire, but this may have been his best yet. And for his sake, it might be the one that helps him stick around.
Loser: Evan Neal
Three years ago, when Evan Neal fell to the Giants at No. 7 overall, it was viewed as a home run pick. He was widely considered one of the best linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft and looked poised to be the team’s long-term answer at right tackle.
Now? Not so much.
Neal’s fifth-year option was declined, and his role on the depth chart is unclear. Andrew Thomas is locked in at left tackle, and Jermaine Eluemunor is penciled in at right tackle—where Neal used to play before injuries and poor performance set in.
With Marcus Mbow now in the fold, the writing may be on the wall. Neal might have to make the move to guard—a position he previously resisted. And even that transition isn’t guaranteed to work out. Just ask Mekhi Becton, who’s had his own bumpy road switching inside.
Unless Neal shows dramatic improvement between now and Week 1, his days in New York could be numbered. Once viewed as a cornerstone lineman, he’s now at serious risk of being labeled a draft bust at his next stop.
Winner: Kayvon Thibodeaux
On the flip side of that 2022 NFL Draft is the other first-rounder, and the Giants are doubling down on Kayvon Thibodeaux having a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2024 campaign that included mid-season wrist surgery.
Thibodeaux posted just 5.5 sacks in 2024, a step back from his breakout 2023 season when he logged 11.5 sacks. Still, the Giants showed their faith in him by exercising his fifth-year option during the NFL Draft.
He’ll now be part of a pass rush featuring Abdul Carter and Brian Burns off the edge, with Dexter Lawrence anchoring the middle. Fans are already dreaming about the kind of havoc that group could cause in 2025. Last season, the Giants’ pass rush at one point led the league in sacks and still finished ninth overall by season’s end.
Having a healthy Thibodeaux back in the fold—alongside Burns and Carter—should create more one-on-one opportunities for him and reduce the attention he draws. Heading into the draft, there were whispers about Thibodeaux being a trade candidate. That’s no longer the case. He’s clearly a part of the Giants’ present and future—and their pass rush should be taken seriously.
Loser: Tommy DeVito
Two years ago, “DeVito Mania” was running wild across New York, New Jersey, and the NFL. “Tommy Cutlets” became a fan-favorite after winning a few games and injecting some energy into a struggling Giants team. Then the league caught up to him, and he was right back on the bench.
Now, DeVito enters training camp as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart—behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart, who’s expected to be the franchise’s future starter.
Unlike last year, when DeVito was the presumed QB3, there’s no such guarantee in 2025. With Wilson, Winston, and Dart expected to make the roster, DeVito’s options are limited.
He could return to the practice squad, or he might have to look elsewhere to continue his NFL journey. If he’s not interested in a practice squad role again, signing with another team might be the next best step.
Winner: Dexter Lawrence
Before injuries cut short his 2024 season, Dexter Lawrence was making a serious case for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. One of the Giants’ offseason priorities was finding him some help up front.
Enter Abdul Carter—a massive addition on the edge who should give Lawrence even more freedom to dominate. The Giants also selected Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander in the third round, a much-needed reinforcement for a defensive front that’s struggled to replace Leonard Williams’ production since trading him.
So far, players like Jordon Riley and D.J. Davidson haven’t panned out, and Elijah Chatman and Casey Rogers remain unknowns. Adding Alexander was a step in the right direction.
If Alexander can clog up the middle and help stop the run—a major issue in 2024—he and Lawrence could form a formidable interior duo. That kind of pressure up the middle should create more chances for Carter, Burns, and Thibodeaux to disrupt the backfield and attack the quarterback.
Loser: Daniel Bellinger
Three years ago, Daniel Bellinger was considered the main tight end for the Giants and started out that way. Then the Giants traded for Darren Waller, and his production slowly faded. A year ago, the Giants drafted Theo Johnson, who began seeing more first-team reps as the lead tight end in the offense.
Now, Bellinger finds himself in a rather crowded tight end room that includes Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Greg Dulcich, and Thomas Fidone, the Giants’ seventh-round pick from Nebraska. Suddenly, Bellinger is going from starting tight end to potentially having no place in the offense.
Johnson continues to be viewed as the lead tight end. Dulcich could get a real opportunity to prove himself after dealing with injuries. Manhertz is the team’s blocking specialist. And with Fidone now in the mix, it’s hard to see exactly where Bellinger fits in.
Heading into camp, Bellinger will need to step up and prove he belongs in this crowded position group. If not, he could be looking for work elsewhere in 2025.
Winner: Brian Daboll
When Brian Daboll took over as head coach in 2022, he had a successful first season—taking the Giants to the playoffs and even winning a postseason game. Since then, the team has gone 9-25, and Daboll has gone from the penthouse to the hot seat.
Despite the pressure, both Daboll and GM Joe Schoen were retained for at least one more season. Now, that may turn into something longer—especially after the Giants selected Jaxson Dart as their potential quarterback of the future. Fans and media alike have called for Schoen and Daboll to be given the chance to draft and develop their own QB, especially after the Daniel Jones era flamed out.
Jones is gone, and Dart is in. That gives Daboll the chance to groom a young quarterback the same way he once helped develop Josh Allen in Buffalo. Reportedly, Daboll saw a lot of Allen in Dart, and that played a big role in the decision to trade back into the first round to get him.
The last time the Giants drafted a quarterback was Jones in 2019. He had a decent rookie season, but after the Giants fired Pat Shurmur—who was instrumental in Jones’ early success—everything unraveled. Jones went through several coaches and offensive coordinators, and he never quite recovered.
This time, the Giants have the guy Daboll wanted. And because of that, Daboll might now have the time and space to see his vision through. Drafting Dart may have just bought him a longer leash than anyone expected.
Loser: Eric Gray
Back in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Giants weren’t sure if Saquon Barkley would report to the team as he was in the middle of contract negotiations. The Giants grabbed a bit of insurance by drafting Eric Gray as a potential backup plan.
Barkley ended up reporting—but he also missed time due to injury. Still, Gray never really made the leap. The Giants signed Devin Singletary in free agency and drafted Tyrone Tracy Jr. in 2024, pushing Gray down the depth chart. Tracy emerged as the lead back, and Gray was an afterthought.
Now, with the Giants drafting Cam Skattebo in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, not only is Singletary’s workload in question, but Gray’s spot on the roster could be in jeopardy altogether. Even if Singletary is kept around to mentor, Tracy and Skattebo are expected to be the one-two punch.
Unless Gray has a spectacular training camp and proves himself impossible to cut, don’t be surprised if he’s not on the 53-man roster come September.