The Giants and Jets were at a crossroads on night one of the NFL Draft. Both teams left fans disappointed last season, as they face gaping holes in their rosters. Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart will join the Giants; Armand Membou will join the Jets. Will these players be enough to shape them up? Let’s take them back to school and grade their three selections.
The Giants select edge rusher Abdul Carter (A+)
The Giants were too low at the third overall pick to select quarterback Cameron Ward or receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, but this played into their favor in the end. They could then select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, an unanimous All-American who won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year following a 12-sack season with No. 5 Penn State. He should help Big Blue improve their lackluster defensive rankings, and alongside defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence II, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Brian Burns, create a nice forefront for the Giants. Given the available players, Carter was an A+ choice.
The Giants trade up for QB Jaxson Dart (A-)
Entering the NFL Draft, some questioned whether the Giants would select a quarterback in the first round. The Giants kept everyone wondering until late into the first round, when they traded with Houston to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at pick twenty-five. Dart, a member of the 2024 All-SEC First Team, has a high ceiling potential due to his arm range. The Giants head coach Brian Daboll now has his first “quarterback experiment”, since he worked with current MVP Josh Allen from 2018 to 2021. Dart will likely take a backseat entering this season with free agent signee Russell Wilson expected to start, but this isn’t necessarily bad. Take a look at Patrick Mahomes: He sat his first season behind veteran Alex Smith in 2017 before starting in 2018, where he eventually won the MVP award. Dart has a bright future ahead of him, giving the general manager Joe Schoen. The Giants earned a solid grade on this pick.
The Jets select tackle Armand Membou (B)
The Jets took Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou with the seventh pick. Membou was named a member of the All-SEC Second Team following a solid 2024 campaign. He showcases elite athleticism for an offensive lineman of his size. Accompanied by young tackle Olu Fashanu, the Jets’ offensive line will become even more effective. Still, his grade is lower compared to Penn State All-American tight end Tyler Warren, who the Jets passed on. Warren can play at most positions, a great attribute given the Jets’ recent offensive struggles. Despite removing the possibility of adding Warren, Membou is a solid selection at a B, whose contribution will be key to the team’s offense.
