The New York Giants may not have gotten the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but that didn’t stop general manager Joe Schoen from having a little fun while trying. As the Tennessee Titans were on the clock, a video surfaced of Schoen calling GM Mike Borgonzi one last time—laughing, smiling, and knowing exactly how the conversation would go.
“I had to do it, I had to do it,” Schoen chuckled into the phone. "Thought I'd give it one more swing." He called knowing full well the Titans weren’t budging. The call didn’t change anything—Tennessee went on to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward—but the lighthearted moment showed a front office that’s confident, in sync, but still not afraid to take its shot. At the very least, this wasn't another HBO Hard Knocks moment. It would be tough to top that embarrassment.
#Giants GM Joe Schoen jokingly made one final call to #Titans GM Mike Borgonzi while Tennessee was on the clock, just to make sure the No. 1 pick really wasn’t available. 😅
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 8, 2025
(via @Giants, h/t @GiantsNationPod)
pic.twitter.com/JwbAGoGtFv
Schoen’s call wasn’t some out-of-pocket Hail Mary. According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the Giants were “the most aggressive” team in trade talks for the top pick. They reportedly offered No. 3 overall, next year’s first, and a treasure trove of additional picks. The Titans never budged, locking in on Ward as their franchise QB. But the way Schoen went about it? That’s what stood out. He's clearly grown.
Giants miss on No. 1 pick but still land franchise cornerstones in 2025 NFL Draft
Even though the Titans stayed put, the Giants didn’t miss. Instead of overpaying for a pick they couldn’t pry loose, Schoen stayed patient. He drafted elite pass rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3, giving New York a potential game-wrecker on defense. Then he made another bold move, trading back into the first round for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart—a player the front office clearly believes in long-term.
Cam Ward might’ve gone first, but the Giants didn’t leave Round 1 empty-handed. They walked away with two franchise-building pieces while preserving their future draft capital. Hate it or love it, that's how the good front offices do it. You don’t force a trade just to say you made one. You take your shot, then adjust and execute.
Schoen’s last-second phone call obviously wasn’t desperation—it was a knowing wink. And honestly, it painted him in a pretty likable light. The Titans weren’t moving. It would’ve been interesting if they did, but that’s a moot point now. Schoen’s little burst of carefree, front-office energy might be exactly what Giants fans need to start getting back on the wagon. It's a much better video than Hard Knocks.