The New York Giants have spent much of the 2025 NFL Draft stockpiling future building blocks. But with their seventh-round pick, they made a move that could shake up one of the most crowded position groups on the roster.
At No. 219 overall, the Giants selected Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II—a former top recruit whose path to the NFL has been anything but easy. Fidone battled through early career injuries to finally flash his upside in 2024, finishing with 36 catches, 373 yards, and multiple touchdowns in the Big Ten.
On paper, it’s a solid value pick. In practice, it adds another body to a tight end room that already had plenty of questions entering the offseason.
Thomas Fidone II gives Giants another intriguing lottery ticket at tight end
Fidone isn’t a flier without upside. He posted a 9.49 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10—a number that ranks him among the most athletic tight ends drafted in decades. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, he brings the kind of size, movement skills, and natural hands that NFL teams covet at the position.
But make no mistake: this pick complicates things for Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka. The Giants already had Theo Johnson (recovering from Lisfranc surgery), Daniel Bellinger (entering a pivotal fourth year), Chris Manhertz (a veteran blocker), and Greg Dulcich (a developmental flyer) under contract. Adding Fidone to the mix ensures that competition will be fierce—and that roster spots are far from guaranteed.
Fidone likely projects as a practice squad candidate early, but if he shows the ability to stretch the seam and clean up some blocking technique, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him push for more. His route-running polish and ability to sit down in soft spots could be a sneaky asset in red-zone packages, an area where the Giants desperately need help.
Overall, this is exactly the type of swing you want to see in the seventh round: a big, athletic player with tangible tools and some legitimate upside. Fidone will have a tough fight to crack the final roster, but if the talent wins out, the Giants might’ve just found another developmental gem to stash behind an already intriguing group.