The New York Giants sit in prime position with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The expectation? Snag one of the elite defenders like Abdul Carter, hope Travis Hunter somehow slips past Cleveland… or take their shot at Shedeur Sanders and lock in a quarterback of the future.
But in a chaotic twist, Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman tossed out a curveball that could melt the internet—or at least Giants Twitter.
In his latest “surprise picks” mock draft, Wasserman projected defensive tackle Mason Graham to the Giants at No. 3 overall. And before you scoff, it’s not as off-the-wall as it sounds. The Michigan standout was the highest-graded interior lineman in college football last season. Still, with prospects like Carter, Hunter, and a batch of high-upside quarterbacks available, going D-tackle might feel like ordering salad at a steakhouse.
But there’s a method to the madness.
“The Giants face an intriguing decision at No. 3 overall,” Wasserman writes. “If Travis Hunter is off the board and they aren’t ready to take a quarterback, Abdul Carter seems like the logical fallback. But New York’s bigger need may actually lie on the interior, where Dexter Lawrence stands alone. Mason Graham — college football’s highest-graded defensive tackle in 2024 — could be a perfect running mate.”
Could Mason Graham really be in play at No. 3?
Let’s not pretend the Giants don’t have more pressing needs than defensive tackle. Quarterback, right guard, maybe another cornerback—those feel a bit more pressing. But if Joe Schoen decides to build from the inside out, this idea starts to make a little more sense.
The key factor here? Dexter Lawrence.
The three-time Pro Bowler just landed on Bucky Brooks’ list of the top 10 defenders to build around. Since 2022, Lawrence has racked up 21 sacks and routinely commands double teams. Add in Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and suddenly this front is one interior disruptor away from being dangerous.
Mason Graham might be that piece.
Shane Bowen’s defensive scheme thrives when chaos starts inside. And if the G-Men want to dominate up front, pairing Graham with Lawrence gives them a long-term interior tandem that could take over Sundays. Lawrence eats blocks, Graham shoots gaps, and Thibodeaux and Burns get freed up to do what they do best.
And hey—if the Giants aren’t sold on any QB at No. 3, why force it? Let Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston patch it together for a year. Take a developmental guy on Day 2 like Tyler Shough or Jalen Milroe. You don’t have to manufacture a franchise guy if the right one’s not there.
It’s good to remember—the nature of this mock was “surprising picks.” If Hunter or Carter are available at No. 3 with Graham still on the board, it would be the biggest draft-night shocker if the Giants rolled with the Michigan man. That said, he’s an uber-talented kid with sky-high potential to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines.
But if Schoen’s somehow looking to shock the world—evidence suggests he’d rather avoid that like the plague—Graham would be a strong pick and a legitimate consolation prize.