25 Questions in 25 Days: Draft picks to watch past Round 1

Giants
03 Jul 2025, 15:24 GMT+10

Matt Citak

Giants.com is counting down to the start of 2025 Giants Training Camp with 25 questions in 25 days.

20) What should we know about the draft class outside of the first round?

Matt Citak:Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart have garnered the most buzz within the Giants' draft class, and rightfully so. The quarterbacks, and the guys rushing the quarterbacks, are the two most important positions on the field. But make no mistake, the Giants added several other players that could contribute to the team's success, and quickly, too.

We didn't get to see much of Darius Alexander or Cam Skattebo this spring as they dealt with respective injuries, but both could be looking at significant roles as rookies. Alexander will likely compete during training camp for the spot next to Dexter Lawrence on the defensive line. While he will have some tough competition from other newcomers such as veterans Roy Robertson-Harris, Jeremiah Ledbetter, and Chauncey Golston, not to mention the returning defensive tackles, Alexander's size and physicality give him a good chance at carving out a role for himself. As for Skattebo, we saw just how dominant the young running back can be with his outstanding season at Arizona State last year. Despite his size, Skattebo is as physical as they come and has the ability to shed tackles with ease using elite contact balance. Similar to Tyrone Tracy Jr., Skattebo is also a great pass-catcher, which should allow the coaching staff to use the two backs interchangeably.

Marcus Mbow is one of the most versatile offensive linemen on the team. Since the end of the 2024 college football season, Mbow has been training at all five positions along the line. This comes after spending time at both guard and tackle while at Purdue. Given the depth the Giants have along the offensive line, Mbow will likely be given some time to develop. At which position exactly remains to be seen, although the Giants did indicate he would at least start off at tackle.

Then there's Thomas Fidone II, the young tight end that displayed great athleticism throughout the spring. Fidone was the top tight end recruit coming out of high school, ahead of Brock Bowers, before back-to-back ACL injures derailed the start of his collegiate career. Now fully healthy, Fidone showed some flashes of that potential with some impressive grabs during the spring.

We end with Korie Black, who arrived in East Rutherford with a ton of collegiate experience under his belt. Black played in 62 games at Oklahoma State, including 38 starts over his final three seasons. He has good size and elite speed, and should be thrown right into the cornerback competition come the start of training camp. While we know who most of the guys at the top of the CB depth chart will be, the battle for the reserve spots will be a fun one to watch during camp.