The New York Giants were rumored to be inquiring about the first overall pick in the NFL draft as the team appeared interested in selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward. However, the Tennessee Titans turned down the Giants' trade offer. As expected, Tennessee took Ward with the top pick. But after the selection it was revealed that the team passed on an impressive trade package from New York.

The Giants offered up the third overall pick in the 2025 draft along with their first round selection next year “and other picks” to move up two spots, according to FOX Sports Ralph Vacchiano on X.

The Titans shot down the proposal, making it clear that they had absolutely no intention of trading their pick. Tennessee landed its quarterback of the future in Ward, the clear-cut top passer in the 2025 draft class.

The Giants took Abdul Carter with the third pick in the 2025 draft

Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter is selected by the New York Giants as the number three pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Both the Giants and the Cleveland Browns were interested in moving up to the first overall spot to take Ward. When both were turned down by the Titans, they began taking trade calls to move back in the draft.

Ultimately the Giants held onto their third overall pick and selected Abdul Carter. The Penn State standout is widely considered one of the two generational talents in this draft class, along with Heisman Trophy-winning wideout/cornerback Travis Hunter. Carter is expected to elevate the Giants’ defense in a must-win year for head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.

Rumors that the Browns were seriously considering trading back gained traction ahead of the draft and the team ultimately made a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cleveland moved back to the fifth spot and Jacksonville selected Hunter second overall. The Browns ultimately landed DT Mason Graham with the fifth pick.

The Giants were linked to Shedeur Sanders in the lead-up to the draft. New York was considered the best fit for Sanders. However, Adam Schefter guaranteed that the Giants would not take Sanders third overall.

Sanders has become one of the draft’s most polarizing prospects. He’s widely considered the second-best quarterback in this class after Ward. But 2025 is a down year for passers and opinions varied on where Sanders would come off the board. Many analysts felt he could slide all the way to the Pittsburgh Steelers at 21st overall.