On Thursday, the New York Giants have an important decision to make. Possessing the third-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Giants will have to decide if they want to take quarterback Shedeur Sanders, or one of the two best players in the draft: wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or edge defender Abdul Carter.
With the first round on Thursday, the franchise is still reportedly split internally on what they want to do. Everyone knows the magnitude of this pick and the 2025 season: Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s jobs are on the line. Understanding that, the Giants need to make the right pick.
Recently, Tom Coughlin, one of the most important people in Giants’ history, shared his thoughts on New York’s dilemma. In a Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the Super Bowl-winning head coach was asked how a team approaches a draft when the narrative is that jobs must be saved.
Coughlin responded by saying the first order of business is to ignore outside noise and any narratives being set. As far as making a selection, the former coach and executive emphasized that the Giants have always operated with the best-player-available approach. Coughlin says that’s important because team’s can’t reach for players.
"The way the Giants have always operated in the draft is best player available..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 22, 2025
You can't reach for a player who doesn't belong in that position" ~ Tom Coughlin #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/BhxAYOmJR1
Tom Coughlin says Giants should always draft the best player available
This means if Coughlin was still running the show in New York, the team would undoubtedly be selecting either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. Those are the two best players in the draft and one of them is expected to be on the board at three. Most believe the current staff in New York will take the same approach as well, but there’s a slim chance the team takes Sanders.
The Giants have spent a ton of time evaluating Sanders since the fall, and since they need a long-term answer at quarterback, selecting him would make a lot of sense. The question is if it would make sense with elite prospects like Hunter and Carter on the board.
The best-case scenario on draft night for New York would be selecting Hunter or Carter, and Sanders or one of the quarterbacks they like a lot sliding to them in round two. If the Giants want to be aggressive, they could also trade into the end of the first for to get their quarterback, after securing one of the best players in the draft.