The bombshell rumor that could totally change the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft picture is getting clearer, but a new rumor from Todd McShay could blow up everything. It had always been a safe assumption that the Tennessee Titans would take QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick — and that’s essentially been cemented now, but it’s what happens after that has been completely shattered.

If the Browns select Travis Hunter at No. 2 things get chaotic. It would be a smart pick for Cleveland, and honestly the best selection for them organizationally. There are two legitimately can’t-miss prospects in this class in Hunter and Abdul Carter, and while the assumption has been that the Browns would take Carter — it’s also a luxury when you already have Myles Garrett as an edge rusher. At the very least Hunter gives you offensive and defensive options, rather than simply overloading on pass rush.

That then creates a nightmare scenario for the New York Giants at No. 3. One of the most difficult decisions any team will face in the 2025 NFL Draft: Take the best player available in Carter, even though he plays the only position you’re set at, take Shedeur Sanders and hope you found a franchise quarterback, or trade down — potentially missing out on both.

This would not be a bad choice, but it doesn’t functionally make the Giants much better immediately, and that’s a problem. This is a team that invested a Top 5 pick in Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2022, then made a blockbuster trade for Brian Burns in 2024.

While Thibodeaux hasn’t completely panned out as being an elite pass rusher, he’s still only 24-years-old, developing, and he hasn’t been terrible to the point you need to find a replacement. He’s a absolutely serviceable edge rusher.

You can’t draft Abdul Carter to put him in a rotation. You can’t functionally draft Carter and move either Thibodeaux or Burns into the rotation. Basically you have to draft him and try to find a trade partner for Thibodeaux, who is the most likely to be moved in this scenario. At that point your best return might be a 3rd rounder at best, which is a little like shuffling deck chairs.

This was always a strong possibility, but the stakes are increased significantly when you pass on the consensus No. 1 player in the draft to take the second best quarterback.

The problem here is simple: It feels too much like 2019 all over again. That was when the Giants made a desperation pick at quarterback and ended up with Daniel Jones — and we know how that ended.

Eight first round Pro Bowlers were selected after the Giants picked Jones. There’s a very real risk that history repeats itself. In addition, it’s unclear if QB is a very pressing need right now after the Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, with the organization’s plan looking as if they were going to wait until next year or later to truly find a franchise QB.

This is a very real possibility. The question becomes: How low would the Giants go, and what would they get in return?

If we look at the draft order and team needs there are two organizations to circle in a potential deal: The Panthers (No. 8) and Bears (No. 10). In a perfect world you’d like to imagine the Giants moving back to No. 8, getting a future 1st round pick from the Panthers, and still landing Sanders — but that might not be realistic.

There’s a business relationship between the Panthers and Giants stemming from the Brian Burns trade. However, Carolina is unlikely to trade a future 1st round pick under new GM Dan Morgan — especially after having to endure losing a lot of picks from the Bryce Young trade in 2023. That would potentially mean accepting a 2nd round, 3rd round — and more, which is a bad return.

Bears GM Ryan Poles loves to wheel and deal, but No. 10 is a big drop for the Giants. In addition, picking up a future 1st from an organization poised to break out under Ben Johnson is risky as hell. Assume for a sec that Chicago makes the playoffs. That 1st next year could be in the late teens or early 20s. The decision to drop down might not be worth the return of a Top 3 pick.

Furthermore, if you drop to No. 8 there’s a very real possibility that the Jets select Sanders at No. 7, and the best you can do is take an offensive lineman. It would be fine — but underwhelming.

Let’s talk this one out in the comments. If you’re Joe Shoen do you take the best pass rusher in this class in Abdul Carter? Ignore the noise above you and take Shedeur Sanders? Or do you go in a different direction entirely?