The NFL Draft isn’t just about wringing in the next generation of NFL players rookies. It’s also about how the new blood will impact the guys already on the roster. Every new pick is a hint at a team’s vision. Every selection is a reminder that nothing is promised, and nobody’s job is ever safe.
For the New York Giants, this year’s draft was a reset button. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll went out and loaded the roster with physical, fast, high-upside players who fit the new Big Blue identity they’re trying to build. But while fans celebrate the future, some players are feeling the pressure right now.
Here are five Giants who heard the message loud and clear during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Giants draft picks put these 5 players on notice
Evan Neal, OT
The message: Become a starting caliber guard or its syonara.
Schoen declining Evan Neal’s fifth-year option wasn’t that much of a surprise. Drafting Marcus Mbow in the fifth round probably made that decision even easier. Neal’s days of being handed a starting spot are over. He’ll have to fight for a role on the interior now, and if he doesn’t show drastic improvement fast, he could be headed out the door after 2025.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE
The message: Let's wreak havoc.
Unlike Neal, Thibodeaux saw his fifth-year option picked up—even after the G-Men used the No. 3 overall pick on Abdul Carter. Rather than phasing him out, Schoen is doubling down on chaos. It’s Brian Burns, Chauncey Golston, Carter, and Thibodeaux ready to live in opposing backfields. The Giants are betting big on building a bully up front, and Thibodeaux is still a major part of the plan… for now.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DL
The message: He is expendable.
Adding Darius Alexander in Round 3 was a clear sign that Big Blue is serious about upgrading the interior defensive line. Nunez-Roches was already facing a tight squeeze after New York added Roy Robertson-Harris and Jeremiah Ledbetter in free agency. Now? He’s probably on borrowed time. Cutting him would save $3.6 million against the cap, and with Alexander needing some room to develop, it feels inevitable.
Tommy DeVito, QB
The message: Ciao. Enjoy the practice squad.
Tommy Cutlets had his moment, which was electric, but he just wasn't what the Giants needed anymore. Bringing in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston already pushed DeVito firmly to QB3 territory. Drafting Jaxson Dart basically slams the door shut. New York isn’t carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster. DeVito’s best-case scenario is starting to look like a lot of hanging around on the practice squad. He could eventually back up Dart when Wilson and Winston are gone.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB
The message: The Giants don't necessarily believe he is the heir to Saquon Barkley.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. showed real flashes as a rookie. But the Giants grabbing Cam Skattebo—maybe their biggest steal of the draft when it's all said and done—says everything you need to know. Skattebo is built like a fire hydrant who racked up 1,711 rushing yards and 605 receiving yards last year alone. If Tracy thought he had the RB1 role locked up, he’s about to find out otherwise. There’s a real chance Skattebo overtakes him before the season’s over.