NFL Network's Bucky Brooks projects QB to Giants in first mock draft
With only one game remaining in the 2024 NFL season, many analysts have already turned their attention towards the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Giants hold the third overall pick in this year's draft, and with a glaring hole at the quarterback position, it should not come as a surprise that many draft pundits are projecting a QB to be the team's pick.
NFL Network's Bucky Brooks just released his first mock draft of the year, in which he selects Miami quarterback Cam Ward for the Giants.
"The selection of this alpha-dog quarterback gives the Giants the competitive leader needed to bounce back from a couple of disappointing seasons," Brooks wrote.
After transferring to Miami for the 2024 season, Ward went on to put together a dominant campaign for the Hurricanes, which led to him finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
The 6-foot-2, 223-pound signal-caller completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Ward earned numerous accolades for his performance, including Consensus All-American, ACC Player of the Year, and the Davey O'Brien Award, just to name a few.
Brooks is not alone with this projection, as earlier this week, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner also predicted the Giants select Ward with the third pick.
"I'm still torn between Ward and Sanders for QB1, and there are days it feels like Sanders is more ready right now to lead a successful offense," wrote Baumgardner. "But, long-term, Ward ā who improved every day of his lengthy college career ā could have the higher ceiling."
In addition to his production as a passer, Ward also enjoyed plenty of success running the football. Across his final three collegiate seasons between Miami and Washington State, Ward rushed for 17 touchdowns.
Baumgardner's mock draft extended into the second round, where he has the Giants selecting North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with the 34th overall pick.
Hampton put up impressive numbers over his final two seasons with the Tar Heels. He rushed for 15 touchdowns and over 1,500 yards in each campaign, while averaging 5.9 yards per carry both years. He was named first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC after both seasons.
The 6-foot, 220-pound back finished his collegiate career with 4,200 total yards of offense, including 3,565 rushing yards, and 40 total touchdowns
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his initial ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
No. 49 Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
No. 48 Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State
No. 47 Marcus Mbow, T, Purdue
No. 46 Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan
No. 45 Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
No. 44 Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
No. 43 Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
No. 42 T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
No. 41 Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
No. 40 Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State
No. 39 Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
No. 38 Josh Conerly Jr., T, Oregon
No. 37 Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
No. 36 TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
No. 35 Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
No. 34 Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
No. 33 Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
No. 32 Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
No. 31 Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
No. 30 Josh Simmons, T, Ohio State
No. 29 Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
No. 28 Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
No. 27 Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 26 Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
No. 25 Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
No. 24 Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
No. 23 Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
No. 22 Derrick Harmon, DT, Michigan State
No. 21 Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
No. 20 James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
No. 19 Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas
No. 18 Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
No. 17 Armand Membou, IOL, Missouri
No. 16 Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
No. 15 Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
No. 14 Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
No. 13 Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
No. 12 Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
No. 11 Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
No. 10 Cam Ward, QB, Miami
No. 9 Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
No. 8 Will Campbell, T, LSU
No. 7 Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
No. 6 Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
No. 5 Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
No. 4 Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
No. 3 Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
No. 2 Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
No. 1 Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
View photos from the practices leading up to the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
American team wide receiver Jack Bech (7), of TCU, celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning touchdown over the National team during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team head coach Mike Kafka, of the New York Giants, watches during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the American team, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team quarterback Riley Leonard (13), of Notre Dame, looks to throw a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the National team, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9), of Iowa State,reacts after scoring a touchdown against the American team during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team quarterback Jaxson Dart, center, of Mississippi, throws a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the National team Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8), of Oregon, looks to throw a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the American team Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team tight end CJ Dippre (81), of Alabama, catches a pass as National team defensive back Tommi Hill (31), of Nebraska, defends during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team running back RJ Harvey, center, of Central Florida, carries the ball during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the National team Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team quarterback Jalen Milroe (4), of Alabama, looks to throw a pass as National team defensive lineman Junior Tafuna (58), of Utah, applies pressure during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team running back Jarquez Hunter, center, of Auburn, carries the ball against the National team during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team running back Ollie Gordon II, front right, of Oklahoma State, carries the ball as American team linebacker Jack Kiser of Notre Dame, left, closes in for the tackle during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team tight end Elijah Arroyo (80), of Miami, catches a pass for a two-point conversion over American team defensive back Mac McWilliams (27), of Central Florida, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team running back Ollie Gordon II, top, of Oklahoma State, is tackled by American team defensive back Dan Jackson, bottom, of Georgia, as he carries the ball during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team linebacker Tim Smith, bottom, of Alabama, takes a photo with fans after the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the National team, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team quarterback Tyler Shough, of Louisville, looks to throw a pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the American team Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team quarterback Seth Henigan, of Memphis, looks to throw a pass during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game against the National team, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
National team quarterback Taylor Elgersma (18), of Laurier, scrambles as American team defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, left, of Georgia, tackles him from behind during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American team quarterback Jaxson Dart, left, of Mississippi, escapes pressure from National team defensive lineman Landon Jackson (40), of Arkansas, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
James Ferentz Assistant Offensive Line Coach
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Mike Adams Assistant Secondary Coach
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Mike Adams Assistant Secondary Coach
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen
Marcus Cooper National Scout, Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Blaise Bell College Area Scout, Marcus Cooper National Scout, Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
James Ferentz Assistant Offensive Line Coach
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
James Ferentz Assistant Offensive Line Coach
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Mike Adams Assistant Secondary Coach
James Ferentz Assistant Offensive Line Coach
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Joel Thomas Running Backs Coach
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Joe Schoen Senior Vice President and General Manager
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Mike Kafka Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
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