While the rest of the football world is obsessed with Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, the New York Giants are taking a different approach in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead of taking one of the top quarterbacks with the third overall pick, they’re going to take the best player available—Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter—and address their quarterback needs later in the draft.
One name that’s popped up as a potential Giant? Kyle McCord, the former Ohio State star who transferred to Syracuse and lit up college football last season. McCord recently told The Rich Eisen Show that the Giants tested him more than any other team during the pre-draft process.
McCord on the Giants’ Tough Testing
“They definitely put me to the test,” McCord said of his visit with the Giants. “They wanted to see how well you process things, how quick can you pick up information. So out of all the teams, they were the one that tested me the most, but it was good. It was a lot of fun.”
McCord said New York would be a great spot for him, especially with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster. “It would be a great spot to end up,” he said.
For McCord, playing behind two veteran quarterbacks would be a unique opportunity to learn and develop without the immediate pressure of starting right away—a situation that would benefit both him and the Giants in the long run.
Why Kyle McCord is Special
McCord’s journey from Ohio State to Syracuse is a testament to his adaptability and toughness. At Ohio State, he showed he could manage a super talented team, and at Syracuse, he showed he could carry a team to new heights, leading the nation in passing yards last year.
FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd has even called McCord the “sleeper pick” of the draft. “He’s shown he can guide and manage a super talented team [at Ohio State] … and he’s shown he can carry a franchise [Syracuse] to new heights. I think he’s the sleeper in the draft,” Cowherd said on his show The Herd.
McCord’s poise, leadership and ability to perform under pressure makes him an interesting prospect for teams looking for a quarterback—not just the Giants but also the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints who all have interest.
Can McCord be the Giants’ long term answer?
If the Giants are serious about McCord, they may need to act fast. With his stock rising, McCord is no longer flying under the radar. The Giants have done their due diligence and are clearly interested so they must view him as a viable option to develop as their next franchise quarterback.
Selecting McCord on Day 2 or 3 would allow the Giants to focus on their immediate needs, like the defense, with their first round pick. By taking McCord later, they can give him time to develop behind Wilson and Winston and make the transition smoother when he takes over.
The Big Picture: A Draft Plan
The Giants are playing it smart: prioritize the best player available early and find value at quarterback later in the draft. This way they can build depth across the roster and still invest in the future of the franchise.
With McCord’s skill set and the Giants’ interest it’s possible this could happen. If McCord pans out the Giants might just have a gem in the rough, a quarterback who can lead the team into a new era.
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