Giants Mock Draft 8.0: Trading Up for Shedeur Sanders

Giants Mock Draft 8.0 Breakdown

The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching, and mock draft season is in full swing. Let's break down a potential scenario for the New York Giants that involves some bold moves to secure their quarterback of the future.

Round 1, Pick 2 (via trade with Cleveland): QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

In this mock draft scenario, the Giants make an aggressive move to trade up from pick 3 to pick 2, sending their original first-round pick (3rd overall), their 2025 third-round pick (65th overall), their 2025 fourth-round pick (134th overall), and a 2026 third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns.

The motivation behind this trade is clear - the Giants are desperate to secure their franchise quarterback, and Shedeur Sanders is their top target. With the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly looking to move up for Sanders, the Giants felt compelled to make this bold move.

Shedeur Sanders Scouting Report

Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, brings an intriguing skill set to the table:

• Excellent accuracy, completing 74% of his passes in his final college season
• Significant improvement in passing yards and touchdowns from previous year
• Decreased turnover-worthy play percentage despite an increase in interceptions
• Ability to make big throws and work effectively from a dirty pocket
• Strong performance under pressure (54.7% completion rate, 12 TDs, 5 INTs when pressured)
• Excels when blitzed, drawing comparisons to Dak Prescott in this aspect
• Mentored by Tom Brady, bringing a professional approach to the game

While this move is undoubtedly risky, the Giants' brass likely feels that securing a potential franchise quarterback is worth the cost. As Brandon Beane once said about trading up for a QB, "It doesn't matter what we gave up, because if it fails, we won't be here."

Round 2, Pick 42 (via trade with Jets): OT Gray Zabel, North Dakota State

After trading back 8 spots from pick 34 to 42 (acquiring an additional third-round pick in the process), the Giants address their offensive line by selecting Gray Zabel from North Dakota State.

Gray Zabel Scouting Report

• 6'6", 305 lbs with room to add more weight
• First-team FCS All-American
• Excellent positional versatility, having played multiple positions on the offensive line
• Impressive PFF grades: 90.4 overall, allowing just 1 sack and 2 QB hits in 453 pass-blocking snaps
• Strong performance at the Senior Bowl, generating significant buzz
• Potential to play tackle or guard, with some scouts even projecting him as a center

Zabel's versatility and strong performance against top competition make him an ideal selection to help protect the Giants' investment in Shedeur Sanders. He could potentially start at right tackle, allowing the team to move Evan Neal inside to guard, or serve as a versatile sixth lineman while developing for a future starting role.

Round 3, Pick 92 (via trade with Jets): S Andrew Mukuba, Texas

With their newly acquired third-round pick, the Giants address their secondary by selecting safety Andrew Mukuba from Texas.

Andrew Mukuba Scouting Report

• 6'0", 190 lbs - slightly undersized but plays with heart and grit
• Versatile defender capable of playing deep safety and in the slot
• Outstanding coverage skills: 89.7 PFF coverage grade (90th percentile)
• Impressive ball skills: 5 interceptions, 0 touchdowns allowed, 26.1% forced incompletion rate
• Allowed just 10 receptions on 23 targets, with a minuscule 12.1 passer rating when targeted
• Ranked as the 5th best safety in the draft by Mel Kiper

Mukuba's ability to play multiple positions in the secondary makes him an excellent value pick in the third round. He could pair with Xavier McKinney to form a dynamic safety duo, while also providing flexibility to match up against slot receivers when needed.

Analyzing the Giants' Draft Strategy

This mock draft scenario represents a high-risk, high-reward approach for the New York Giants. Let's break down the potential pros and cons of this strategy:

Pros

1. Securing a potential franchise QB: By trading up for Shedeur Sanders, the Giants are taking a proactive approach to solving their quarterback issues. If Sanders lives up to his potential, this move could set the franchise up for long-term success.

2. Protecting the investment: Selecting Gray Zabel in the second round shows a commitment to building a strong offensive line around their new quarterback. Zabel's versatility could prove invaluable as the Giants look to solidify their front five.

3. Adding secondary depth and flexibility: Andrew Mukuba provides much-needed help in the defensive backfield, with the versatility to play multiple positions and match up against various offensive looks.

4. Balancing offense and defense: Despite the aggressive move for a QB, the Giants still managed to address both sides of the ball in their first three picks.

Cons

1. High cost of trading up: Giving up multiple picks to move up one spot is a steep price, especially for a team with multiple needs. This move limits the Giants' ability to add depth in the middle rounds.

2. Pressure on Sanders to perform: With such a significant investment, there will be immense pressure on Sanders to succeed quickly. If he struggles, it could set the franchise back several years.

3. Passing on other needs: By focusing on QB, OL, and S, the Giants may have missed opportunities to address other areas of concern, such as wide receiver, edge rusher, or cornerback.

4. Limited draft capital remaining: After these moves, the Giants will have fewer picks to work with in the later rounds, making it harder to find hidden gems or add depth to the roster.

Potential Impact on the 2025 Season

If this draft scenario were to play out, here's how it might impact the Giants' 2025 season:

1. Quarterback competition: Shedeur Sanders would likely compete with Daniel Jones for the starting job. Even if Sanders doesn't win the job outright, he would be groomed as the quarterback of the future.

2. Offensive line shuffle: Gray Zabel's addition could lead to a reshuffling of the offensive line. He might start at right tackle, with Evan Neal moving inside to guard, or he could provide valuable depth across multiple positions.

3. Secondary improvements: Andrew Mukuba would join a safety group that includes Xavier McKinney, potentially forming a dynamic duo on the back end of the defense. His versatility could allow Wink Martindale to get creative with defensive packages.

4. Pressure on the coaching staff: With such a significant investment in a rookie quarterback, there would be pressure on Brian Daboll and his staff to develop Sanders quickly and show progress in the offense.

5. Roster holes remain: The Giants would still need to address other areas of need, likely through free agency or with their remaining draft picks. Positions like wide receiver, cornerback, and edge rusher might still need attention.

Long-Term Implications

The success or failure of this draft strategy could have far-reaching implications for the Giants organization:

1. Quarterback stability: If Sanders develops into a franchise quarterback, the Giants could have their most stable QB situation since the Eli Manning era.

2. Job security: The futures of GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll may be tied to Sanders' development. Success could lead to long-term stability, while failure could result in another regime change.

3. Salary cap management: Having a potential franchise QB on a rookie contract could allow the Giants to be aggressive in free agency over the next few years, assuming Sanders pans out.

4. Team identity: A successful Sanders could help reshape the Giants' identity into a modern, dynamic offense - a significant shift from their traditional ground-and-pound approach.

5. Draft strategy in future years: If Sanders succeeds, the Giants can focus on building around him in future drafts. If he struggles, they may find themselves back in the QB market sooner than they'd like.

Conclusion

This mock draft scenario represents a bold, aggressive approach by the New York Giants to address their quarterback situation and build for the future. By trading up for Shedeur Sanders, they're swinging for the fences in hopes of landing a franchise-altering player.

The additions of Gray Zabel and Andrew Mukuba show a commitment to building a strong supporting cast around their new quarterback, both offensively and defensively. However, the cost of moving up for Sanders limits their ability to address other needs in this draft.

Ultimately, the success of this draft class will hinge on Sanders' development. If he becomes the franchise quarterback the Giants envision, this could be looked back on as a pivotal moment in the team's history. If he struggles, it could set the franchise back significantly.

As with any draft strategy, only time will tell if these moves pay off. But one thing is certain - if this scenario plays out, the 2025 season will be one of the most closely watched and scrutinized in recent Giants history.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CenQJGkFp8