The New York Giants, with their first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, select …

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The NFL Draft is finally (almost) here. That means the merciful end to months of draft coverage, where every possible scenario is speculated about.

What carries weight is the final prediction, not some possibility mentioned in “Mock Draft 7.0” in March. Two years ago, I identified cornerback Deonte Banks as the most likely pick at No. 25. Last year, I hit on wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth pick.

So, who will the New York Giants take with the third pick this year? Let’s go through a position-by-position process of elimination to get to my prediction:

• Quarterback: Landing a quarterback of the future was the top priority of the offseason, as declared by co-owner John Mara the day after the dreadful 2024 season concluded. The most direct path to landing a potential franchise quarterback is to take one with the third pick.

With Miami quarterback Cam Ward set to be the first pick by the Titans, the Giants are in position to get the No. 2 QB in this class. That’s widely viewed as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who the Giants have spent an inordinate amount of time evaluating.

The question the Giants must answer is if Sanders is worthy of the No. 3 pick. The future of this regime hangs in the balance with that decision.

• Running back: Allow me a moment to contemplate the reaction if the Giants took running back Ashton Jeanty with the third pick after everything that played out with Saquon Barkley. That decision would merit another season of Offseason Hard Knocks. Alas, despite his prodigious talent, Jeanty can safely be ruled out of consideration at No. 3.

• Wide receiver: The Giants addressed this position with their first pick last year. Nabers has already established himself as a legit No. 1 receiver, so the Giants won’t dip into that well again — unless they view Colorado’s Travis Hunter primarily as a receiver.

• Tight end: Brock Bowers was a possible target in a trade-down scenario last year. Perhaps the same could apply with Penn State’s Tyler Warren this year. But a trade down from No. 3 is unlikely, and there’s no way the Giants will take a tight end with the third pick.

• Offensive line: This is another position that could enter the equation with a trade down, but it’s more likely to be addressed on Day 2 of the draft.

• Defensive line: Add this to the list of positions likely to be addressed on Day 2.

• Outside linebacker: The Giants have a lot invested at outside linebacker, with Kayvon Thibodeaux, the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft, and Brian Burns, who signed a five-year, $141 million contract last year. So this position isn’t a need. But adding elite players is a need, so the Giants won’t be able to pass on Penn State’s Abdul Carter if he’s available at No. 3.

The Giants can figure out how everyone will fit later. Carter is a better prospect than Thibodeaux was, so the Giants shouldn’t pass on Carter because Thibodeaux is on the roster. The Giants only need to look to their past to see the benefits of being stocked with pass rushers.

• Inside linebacker: There are no inside linebacker prospects worthy of the No. 3 pick, but this is a sneaky spot to expect the Giants to address in the middle rounds despite Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden returning as the starters for the third straight season.

• Cornerback: Hunter would be an easy pick if he’s available. Like with Carter, the Giants could figure out the division of labor at cornerback later. Even with Banks and Paulson Adebo, the Giants don’t have a proven No. 1 corner. Hunter could fill that role, which would be invaluable.

Schoen said he’s open to Hunter playing both ways, but the GM also made comments that acknowledged the challenges of that approach. It would be much harder for Hunter to play receiver full time and get sprinkled in on defense, with intricate coverage responsibilities varying weekly based on matchups. It’s easier to devise a package each week to get Hunter’s play-making ability on the field offensively.

• Safety: There are no safeties worthy of the No. 3 pick, and the Giants solidified the top of the depth chart with the Jevon Holland signing in free agency.

Now that I’ve covered all of the options, I’ve narrowed it down to two possibilities:

• Take a quarterback: Sanders is the wild card of the entire draft. It’s impossible to ignore the amount of time the Giants devoted to scouting him. I can’t completely rule out Sanders at No. 3, but more signs point to the Giants taking a blue-chip position player and then trying to find a quarterback (possibly Sanders) later.

• Take the best non-QB available: It would be fascinating to know the player the Giants have ranked higher, Hunter or Carter. We’ll probably never know because the decision should be taken out their hands by the Browns, who figure to take one of those stars with the second pick.

The Giants should gladly take whoever is left. With the buzz that the Browns are leaning toward Hunter, that leaves Carter as my prediction for the Giants’ pick.

(Photo: John Smolek / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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