The 2025 Draft Thread

[method man]

I'll watch thanks. Speaking of Royal was listenening to Jon Ledyards' podcast crapping on him, saying he basically is only catching screens and is a pure gadget player and don't count on him for making plays down the field. He crapped on a whole bunch of the receivers including crapping on Jayden Higgins.

So I ignored his Higgins hate but figured he might be on to something about Royal. So i finally watched Royal and while indeed he had a ton of screens, hitches, etc -- he was also an explosive YAC guy, who can make plays down the field. Raw but talented.

I am a bit of a draft podcast junkie and will listen to almost anything. Ledyard's podcast might be the strangest one. It's him and this British dude, unless he's Austrialian, hard me to tell because his accent isn't super thick, and its mildly interesting in that they are detailed. But they are both IMO boring personas. All of that is fine. But I think its amusing that they won't give their full rankings. You got to pay for that. Also they will only give half of their takes on podcasts for free, the rest you have to pay. I don't begruge anyone wanting to make a buck but there is so much draft content out their for free, that it would be wild to me if some paid for their takes considering IMO they lack personality.

I used to like Ledyard from the context of how much he loves Guice and he preferred him over Barkley. But lol, he's become a bit of a hater of this FO so maybe i got a little grudge against him now. He crapped on their off season moves and roster last year. He's crapping on their off season moves this year.

I think McShay kicks butt with his new podcast. Wildly entertaining. His partner is a bit boring but is fine. The NFL Stock exchange is great. Kiper is still good but was much better with McShay.

I think Field Yates is one of the worst, if not the worst, mainstream analysts out there. He is fine as a moderator but not as an analyst

 

[skinsinparadise]

Who are some space eating NTs we can get late Day 3? The Chump Bailey Have you looked at Nazir Stackhouse and Jay Toia? For the latter, Logan brought him up when be was talking Schwesinger and mentioned his strong run stopping ability and he being a reason Schwesinger didn’t have to take on a lot of blocks

Don't know if he lasts until late in day 3 but he did in the board's mock draft and I took him. Tied for the longest arms in this class

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think Field Yates is one of the worst, if not the worst, mainstream analysts out there. He is fine as a moderator but not as an analyst

Yeah he's just OK IMO. Have you watched Fields' interview of Peters? that was really good.

It's not that I agree with McShay all the time. But I value dudes who bring some entertaintment and personality to their job and he does that big time. I think he and Kiper were really good together on their podcasts back in the day.

I am actually toying with watching McShay on draft night, he's really pushing his live coverage of it including saying he's not going to give short shrift to these picks like the networks sometimes do -- no commercials, etc.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It feels like Giddens is probably the best value of any back in the draft if he does end up going Day 3. He is the only one of the backs in his tier who is a legitimate 3 down back and has the home run speed. I think I heard on a pod that he didn’t start playing football until late in high school so he is a guy who will continue getting better and better.

He was one of the first RBs I watched in the process and really dug him but then I watched so many others that he wasn't always forefront in my mind though I've mentioned him here plenty. I suspect he goes mid third. He's too good I think to go later. Also he stands out in this group some because so many of these guys come off pure rotational. The thunder to the lightening or vice versa. The pass catching guy, etc. Giddens has the size to hold up and do everything -- needs to improve as a pass catcher and pass blocker.

IMO the dude who likely lasts to day 3, a good part of it is him being 24, is RJ Harvey who is IMO a slightly poor man's version of Giddins. Their styles are a bit different. I like Harvey more as a pass catcher. But I like Giddens better as a runner.

 

[method man]

Don't know if he lasts until late in day 3 but he did in the board's mock draft and I took him. Tied for the longest arms in this class

Isn’t 6-6 a little too tall to play NT?

 

[method man]

Yeah he's just OK IMO. Have you watched Fields' interview of Peters? that was really good.

It's not that I agree with McShay all the time. But I value dudes who bring some entertaintment and personality to their job and he does that big time. I think he and Kiper were really good together on their podcasts back in the day.

I am actually toying with watching McShay on draft night, he's really pushing his live coverage of it including saying he's not going to give short shrift to these picks like the networks sometimes do -- no commercials, etc.

I haven’t seen the interview of AP but it doesn’t surprise me - it’s what he is good at.

As an analyst, some of the folks on this board have sharper takes than he does. What I don’t like on the pod is he actively serves as a hype guy and cheerleader for Mel every episode - true brownnosing

 

[Riggo44]

RB Omarion Hampton visits Giants Thursday

The Giants are visiting with edge rusher Abdul Carter on Thursday and they are also spending some time with a potential addition on the other side of the ball.

www.nbcsports.com

I would not love Omarion Hampton to the Giants at the top of the second. They are also rumored to be the landing spot for Abdul Carter. I’d rather have neither of those guys in the NFCE.

They've had Lawrence, Thibideaux, Burns, among others and they still suck. What is Carter really going to add there? I honestly rather them get Carter than Hampton--even though Carter is arguably the best player in the draft.

 

[Chris]

How Brian Daboll has survived in NY is beyond me. Joe Schoen is a close second but at least he appears to conduct himself as a professional.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Isn’t 6-6 a little too tall to play NT?

Jordan Davis is 6 '6. Y. Black is 6 5 1/2, same size as Alfred Collins. Ty Robinson is 6 '5, according to Pauline we have interest in him. Savion Jones 6 5 1/2. Deone Walker 6 7 1/2,

 

[skinsinparadise]

They've had Lawrence, Thibideaux, Burns, among others and they still suck. What is Carter really going to add there? I honestly rather them get Carter than Hampton--even though Carter is arguably the best player in the draft.

With the Giants, am hoping the Browns take Hunter. I'd rather them get Carter albiet i do think that D line is already good and will be great with Carter.

But for a team like them desperate for a QB, having Nabers and Hunter I think can make a mediocre QB look better so I'd rather not see that unfold.

 

[skinsinparadise]

How Brian Daboll has survived in NY is beyond me. Joe Schoen is a close second but at least he appears to conduct himself as a professional.

The weird thing about the Giants is they've mostly draft well under Schoen.

Even Gettelman who was a punchline didn't do that bad. Some of his moves aged well like the Beckham deal and letting Landon Collins go even though both moves were ridiculed in real time. And while we've hoped that investing in our D line in the draft would bring us game changing stars -- they actually pulled it off. Dexter Lawrence (one of Gettleman's picks) eats Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne for lunch. Thibodeaux has been arguably better than Sweat and easily better than Chase. They got the last laugh in the Chase sweepstakes during that draft where they got Andrew Thomas who is a stud but alas can't stay heathy though. BJ Hill and Tomlinson who they let go in recent years where arguably better picks than someone like Payne -- better run stuffers and more importantly they got them later in the draft where they didn't give up a mid first rounder.

But by and large Schoen has done well in the draft aside from O line. Not perfect. But mostly good. Just shows the power of the QB and the O line. That's been the bane of the Giants, swinging and missing at QB and O line (sans Thomas).

T. Tracy looks like a keeper at RB. Looking like it is trending better than the backs we took in recent years.

There is a weird dysfunction with that the team that seems to seep from one adminstration after another post Coughlin. Feels a lot like this team did until Peters-Quinn came.

One of Schoen's misses, D. Banks is interesting because he at least flashed his rookie season at times, inconsistent, but seemed to get worse last season. Joey Porter from that same draft, was a great rookie but "meh" last year for the Steelers. We got the dud with Forbes. Too bad we didn't take Gonzalez, I don't think that one was that hard. At least the Giants and Steelers have the excuse that he wasn't an option for them.

 

[skinzplay]

I see Michael Irvin-type potential in Tre Harris. I hope we draft and develop him.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I see Michael Irvin-type potential in Tre Harris. I hope we draft and develop him.

He's a hard one for me to figure out. But if they like him, I'd dig it. Some draft observors have said the 30 day visits are often reserved for players they are intrigued but are on the fence about. If so, I'd get it. There is some mystery I as to whether Tre will translate to the NFL so diving deeper into learning about the dude is worth the effort.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[philibusters]

Isn’t 6-6 a little too tall to play NT?

It is certainly going to hurt with leverage. On the flip side, he does have 35' inch arms so he is good with his hands and can use his length he is going to be tough to drive block. Likewise he has the frame to get up to 350 or 355 pounds without becoming an immobile statute in a way a 6'2 guy might not. But overall if you were designing the idea NT he is probably 6'3 345 pounds with 35 inch arms so yeah he is a little tall.

 

[philibusters]

The weird thing about the Giants is they've mostly draft well under Schoen.

Even Gettelman who was a punchline didn't do that bad. Some of his moves aged well like the Beckham deal and letting Landon Collins go even though both moves were ridiculed in real time. And while we've hoped that investing in our D line in the draft would bring us game changing stars -- they actually pulled it off. Dexter Lawrence (one of Gettleman's picks) eats Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne for lunch. Thibodeaux has been arguably better than Sweat and easily better than Chase. They got the last laugh in the Chase sweepstakes during that draft where they got Andrew Thomas who is a stud but alas can't stay heathy though. BJ Hill and Tomlinson who they let go in recent years where arguably better picks than someone like Payne -- better run stuffers and more importantly they got them later in the draft where they didn't give up a mid first rounder.

But by and large Schoen has done well in the draft aside from O line. Not perfect. But mostly good. Just shows the power of the QB and the O line. That's been the bane of the Giants, swinging and missing at QB and O line (sans Thomas).

T. Tracy looks like a keeper at RB. Looking like it is trending better than the backs we took in recent years.

There is a weird dysfunction with that the team that seems to seep from one adminstration after another post Coughlin. Feels a lot like this team did until Peters-Quinn came.

One of Schoen's misses, D. Banks is interesting because he at least flashed his rookie season at times, inconsistent, but seemed to get worse last season. Joey Porter from that same draft, was a great rookie but "meh" last year for the Steelers. We got the dud with Forbes. Too bad we didn't take Gonzalez, I don't think that one was that hard. At least the Giants and Steelers have the excuse that he wasn't an option for them.

His last draft class (2024) was good. That said I think his 2022 and 2023 draft classes were underwhelming (especially 2022 given the amount of draft capital they had)

 

[skinsinparadise]

His last draft class (2024) was good. That said I think his 2022 and 2023 draft classes were underwhelming (especially 2022 given the amount of draft capital they had)

Am actually higher on their 2022 one. Agree 2023 is sort of meh. I like their 2022 draft. Am not knocking them for the number of picks because that's a good organizational move to compile picks. If you factor the number of picks, and factoring in context like that, not sure we killed it last year.

But I don't look at it like that. How many good players did you get.

I'd kill for Thibodeaux. McFadden is a good LB and might be growing into a very good one. Bellinger not bad for a 2nd-3rd TE, at a minimum he looks better than Sinnott thus far even though Sinnott was taken earlier. Wandale Robinson got banged up last year but the two seasons before that he was a good slot WR. Dane Belton is a decent safety, not great but not bad.

I just read they are going to try to convert Neal to guard ala what was done with Belton in Philly, that right now looks like a big swing and miss, hopefully the guard conversion fails. Though the point is to see how they drafts age.

 

[RWJ]

It feels like Giddens is probably the best value of any back in the draft if he does end up going Day 3. He is the only one of the backs in his tier who is a legitimate 3 down back and has the home run speed. I think I heard on a pod that he didn’t start playing football until late in high school so he is a guy who will continue getting better and better.

At this point before the draft I agree with your statement about Giddens but long does he last on Day 3 and how high is AP on Marks from USC or other RBs. Our staff has met with Marks 3 times that we know of and only 1 time with Giddens. That's not the tell all about who we might draft at RB but it may give us some clues. Giddens never fumbled the ball in his CFB career and Marks is not a fumbler either. I like that a lot. It's going to be interesting. The draft is almost here.

 

[DWinzit]

He was one of the first RBs I watched in the process and really dug him but then I watched so many others that he wasn't always forefront in my mind though I've mentioned him here plenty. I suspect he goes mid third. He's too good I think to go later. Also he stands out in this group some because so many of these guys come off pure rotational. The thunder to the lightening or vice versa. The pass catching guy, etc. Giddens has the size to hold up and do everything -- needs to improve as a pass catcher and pass blocker.

IMO the dude who likely lasts to day 3, a good part of it is him being 24, is RJ Harvey who is IMO a slightly poor man's version of Giddins. Their styles are a bit different. I like Harvey more as a pass catcher. But I like Giddens better as a runner.

If we miss on the top two tiers of RBs, Giddens and Harvey are definitely the next in line. IMO RB is a big need and these guys are the last men standing for someone who can be impactful this year.

I find it odd that Giddens doesn't fumble but has been known to drop catches. Figure it is all related to concentration but funny he has great hands in one aspect and sketchy in the other.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Yeah he's just OK IMO. Have you watched Fields' interview of Peters? that was really good.

It's not that I agree with McShay all the time. But I value dudes who bring some entertaintment and personality to their job and he does that big time. I think he and Kiper were really good together on their podcasts back in the day.

I am actually toying with watching McShay on draft night, he's really pushing his live coverage of it including saying he's not going to give short shrift to these picks like the networks sometimes do -- no commercials, etc.

I’m brand loyal to Mel. As I’ve said before, the draft is nothing without Mel. He invented this whole industry.

He’s the GOAT and there isn’t a close second.

Ironically, he’s not often right when he goes in hard on a player. But he’s still the best.