Giants Mock Draft Tracker: Week 1 Standout Shedeur Sanders

The NFL Draft never stops. The dust has finally settled from 2024’s chaos, featuring six quarterbacks in the first half of Round 1 and no defensive player until the No. 15 card was turned in.

What does next year have in store? All the NFL Draft can promise chaos, excitement, and lots of mock drafts.

For the New York Giants, expectations for the 2024 season have been a mixed bag, and a portion of the fanbase already has their eyes on prospective franchise quarterbacks come April. Let’s keep tabs on those mock drafts and identify some trends along the way.

SEPTEMBER 2 – SCHOEN’S SCOUTING ADVENTURE – On Thursday, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen spent his night in Boulder, watching Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders open his season against the North Dakota State Bison.

Fans looking for a preview of what Sanders brings to the table need to go no further than Pro Football Network , who mocked him to New York with the No. 6 pick.

Sanders has seemingly grown intangibly from Year 1 at Colorado to Year 2, dealing with pressure a little better and flaunting impressive talent out of structure. With enough tools to check the box, proving he can be an above-average decision maker – without sacrificing his aggressiveness – will be the key to his stock.

Throwing for 445 yards and four touchdowns is a good way to get that ball rolling.

AUGUST 26 – TRADE TO TOP – The New York Giants haven’t received the same dosage of optimism as other teams looking to rebound after a down 2023 season.

The bulk of that blame can be handed to quarterback Daniel Jones.

Fair or not, New York will be in the quarterback market next spring barring an unforeseen ascendance from the veteran passer. In ESPN’s latest mock draft, that earns them the class’ presumed QB1: Georgia’s Carson Beck .

But it doesn’t come without a trade, giving the New England Patriots extra draft capital to jump from No. 6 to No. 1.

While trade compensation isn’t listed, the price won’t matter in the long run if Beck is the passer his future employer envisions.

AUGUST 19 – BECK AGAIN – At this point, it is no surprise that the New York Giants are paired with both very early draft picks and top quarterback prospects.

Starting quarterback Daniel Jones did little to change that in his 2024 preseason debut.

Once again, New York has been granted the No. 1 pick in a mock draft, this time by the Vikings Wire’s Andrew Harbaugh.

Like routine, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was the selection.

Beck has better arm talent than Jones and is ahead intangibly of where Jones was as a college passer. With some of college football’s best talent surrounding him, Beck is set up to succeed, and another quality season could lock him into the top of the NFL Draft before an inevitable playoff appearance puts him under the brightest lights that level of football has to offer.

AUGUST 12 – OFT-INJURED QB – Part of summer scouting is projecting forward and examining what prospects may look like in April, rather than August.

As such, it’s natural for names not yet entrenched in the Round 1 conversation to be found in mock drafts ahead of the college football season.

That’s the route Pro Football Network took when it made Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and the next franchise quarterback of the New York Giants.

Weigman has plenty of physical talent to go around, both win his arm and enticing agility; and his ability to thrive out of structure is a nice change of pace from recent years. However, staying healthy has proven to be a problem, stunting his development and preventing scouts and statisticians from getting the same sample as other passers in this class.

Needless to say, Weigman has an important season ahead of him. Ensuring he plays in every game will be nearly as important as how he produces within them.

AUGUST 5 – SENIOR STAR QB – The New York Giants and the quarterback class have been a happy couple since the 2024 NFL Draft came to a close. The Giants are projected to struggle, which means quarterback Daniel Jones is likely on his way out.

But who will replace him?

In Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft, the answer is Miami quarterback Cameron Ward.

It’s somewhat of a surprising pick – welcomed given the purpose of summer scouting – but is well within the range of possibilities.

Ward is a creative, toolsy passer with high-level upside that struggles with down-to-down consistency and some bad habits for head coach Brian Daboll to iron out.

JULY 29 – QB OR BUST? – The New York Giants are favored to end up picking toward the top of the 2025 NFL Draft. Getting to that point likely means quarterback Daniel Jones struggles mightily and New York is in need of a new passer.

But in a class that isn’t particularly promising under center – and several notable non-quarterback contenders for the No. 1 pick – could the Giants kick the quarterback can down the road once more?

According to Bleacher Report , if the Giants are (un)fortunate enough to end up with the first pick, it’s quarterback or bust.

Thus, it’s no surprise that the summer’s presumptive QB1, Georgia’s Carson Beck , gets the call.

Beck offers a strong intangible profile, championship pedigree, and more arm talent than Jones while providing the lucrative financial benefits of a quarterback on a rookie deal.

JULY 22 – TWO-WAY THREAT AT TWO – While the New York Giants prepare for the 2024 season, their fans are spending the summer scouting college quarterbacks. The favorite has long been Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, but with little certainty that he’ll keep that pace or that the Giants will be the one to draft him, mock drafts have taken numerous different looks at how things may go down.

So it’s not too surprising to see New York matched with Houston quarterback Donovan Smith and the second-overall pick.

Pro Football Network’s mock draft gives fans a look at a fate well within a reasonable range of outcomes.

Smith isn’t yet viewed as a top-five pick, but the tools are incredible – a noticeable change of pace from what the Giants have seen in recent years. The athleticism to solve problems while he develops as a passer is a trait every young quarterback can use, and he has it in spades.

With a big season, Smith’s stock could soar and bring some Houston-style football to the Big Apple.

JULY 15 – THE OTHER TEXAS QB – The most notable quarterback on the Texas Longhorns roster is backup Arch Manning. The other may hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Quinn Ewers is far from anonymous, and the former top recruit nearly brought a championship to Texas. With Manning looming behind him, Ewers has one more year to prove himself worthy of early draft capital.

In Yardbarker’s recent mock draft , he does just that – not only playing himself into Round 1, but into the top 10, where the New York Giants take him.

Ewers has plenty of flaws to work on regarding his mechanics, processing, and decision making. But with a live arm and an aggressive nature, he offers more upside than Daniel Jones.

Barring injury, his next dozen games could play host to a significant rise in draft stock.

JULY 8 – TRADING THE FARM – The New York Giants and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck are one of the most frequent matches of the summer mock draft circuit. That’s no surprise, given the muted projections in New York, Beck’s status as the preseason QB1, and quarterback Daniel Jones’ impending audition.

However, in ESPN’s recent mock draft , the Giants are in for a twist.

Instead of New York picking Beck where it was initially slotted, the team trades up for the No. 1 pick. The Quarterback Industrial Complex is real, and it doesn’t go away just because quarterback panic hasn’t ensued just yet.

Is the hefty price worth it for a passer who isn’t the elite prospect other classes have offered?

At some point, it may not matter, but Beck’s processing, accuracy, and arm strength are all proficient enough to be a significant upgrade under center. He’ll have his final collegiate season to prove he’s the whole package.

JULY 1 – NEW QUARTERBACK – Summer scouting and the mock drafts that come with it are all about introducing readers to the college football players they should be monitoring for the upcoming year. Scheme fits, draft stocks, and true talent evaluations can come later.

New York Giants fans met a new quarterback when Sports Illustrated sent Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman to the Big Apple with the fifth-overall pick.

In doing so, New York is granted a passer that hasn’t gotten much first-round buzz at all in the early draft cycle. That’s partly due to the more well-known passers ahead of him and the injuries he has struggled with.

Weigman is talented, boasting a live arm and quality accuracy regardless of whether he is under pressure or not. Those injuries, though, have kept him out of the spotlight.

He may not be a common mock draft target just yet. But staying on the field could make him a fixture of Giants fans’ reading in a matter of months.

JUNE 23 – TRADE FOR TOP PICK – Last week, Pro Football Network put forth a mock draft in which the New York Giants took the second quarterback off the board. This time around, New York trades for the top pick.

In doing so, New York takes quarterback Carson Beck , giving fans a glimpse at what the future might look like if Beck ascends to elite prospect status and the Giants fail to tank to the No. 1 selection.

The trade for No. 1, though, doesn’t include a second-round pick.

As such, New York adds its quarterback of the future and an offensive lineman to help smooth the transition, potentially pushing right tackle Evan Neal to the bench.

JUNE 16 – BECK: QB2 – Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck is the favorite to be the first quarterback off the board. As the presumptive QB1 and a favorite among fans with teams in the top five, the New York Giants winning a few too many games could take them out of contention for the quarterback.

But what if he isn’t QB1?

In Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft, Beck isn’t a top-five pick, nor is he the first quarterback taken. This time, it’s Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ turn – a welcome instance of variance early in the draft cycle.

Picking sixth overall, New York finds its franchise quarterback, even if it comes in a different path than initially anticipated.

JUNE 9 – Edge Rusher Extraordinaire – If there was a most surprising selection in the early mock draft circuit, it may be Pro Football Network’s selection from June 9.

Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter has the athletic tools to be one of the top picks in the draft, and PFN made him just that, giving him to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall.

With a career path bound to be compared to Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, Carter’s tools will fuel his hype. However, with edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in town, this may be the rare mock that sends him to New York.

JUNE 2 – Sanders’ Second Selection – It seems inevitable that fans and media members alike will be projecting the New York Giants to draft a quarterback.

However, in a somewhat unsteady class and an array of possibilities for the top 10, it was only a matter of time before Sanders and New York were once again a match, per Pro Football Network's latest mock draft.

Shedeur Sanders checks the box from a tools standpoint and can grow into being more of a dual-threat passer, with the athleticism present and his best throws coming from the pocket.

This year will be pivotal for him as he attempts to prove he’s a first-round passer and not just a big name with a solid half-season of throws.

MAY 26 – First Duplicate Emerges – If there is anyone who stands out as the favorite to be the Giants’ next draft pick, it’s Georgia quarterback Carson Beck . As the early QB1, even in a weak class, he’s going to consistently be projected to the first quarterback-needy team in the draft.

By most projections (including PFN ), right now, that’s New York.

If nothing else, this propensity for quarterbacks is simply a referendum on quarterback Daniel Jones and how he is perceived by both fans and media alike.

MAY 19 – Primetime Heads East – In drafting Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders , teams are essentially drafting his father, Deion Sanders, too. For better or worse – one can argue his experience in the spotlight serves him well – the quarterback’s stock will be impacted by the asterisk that is his father.

Even so, there’s reason to be excited about the passer. He’s consistent from the pocket, keeps the ball safe, and has enough physical tools to check the box. It lands him in New York in CBS Sports' mock draft.

Limiting sacks and remaining efficient throughout the season will be his next task to wow scouts.

MAY 12 – Giants Go Defense – In perhaps the most shocking selection of the early-cycle circuit, Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings has Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham headed to the Big Apple.

Related: Way-Too-Early Mock Draft: Giants Pick SEC Quarterback

While not a perfect fit, sometimes talent is too much to pass up on. Graham has all the traits teams are looking for in an every-down defensive lineman with a knack for hunting quarterbacks. Pairing him up with Dexter Lawrence would be something else.

MAY 5 – Guru Projects Offensive Tackle – No one is more respected in the draft community than Dane Brugler . Simply put, his words matter.

Thus, when he mocked offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. to New York, the football world paid attention.

Banks has some technical flaws to work out but has all the tools that made right tackle Evan Neal a special prospect. Taking another roll of the dice for a potentially elite tackle pairing is hard to pass up in a weak class of passers.

APRIL 30 – Beck Opens the Festivities – No surprises here. Beck and the Giants are an early match made in mock draft heaven, as showcased by USA Today .

Beck has the cleanest passing profile in the class ahead of the 2024 season, has championship pedigree, and boasts more physical tools than the incumbent quarterback.

There’s no guarantee his status as the top quarterback stays true – or that it warrants a top pick – but given what we know in April, this likely makes the most sense.