The New York Giants had control of the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft before putting up a brilliant 45-point performance in Week 17 to beat the Indianapolis Colts.
This victory dropped the Giants to have the No. 3 pick in the draft, meaning there’s no guarantee Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are still on the board. Even if one or both QBs are available, there’s no telling if New York’s front office is set on finding the future of the franchise in Round 1.
Ward and Sanders highlight quite a weak class at the position, so it could be in their best interest to just add strictly the most talented player available at No. 3. If the Giants opt to avoid a quarterback in the first round, there’s also the potential to select one with their second or even third-round pick.
NFL Analyst Predicts Giants To Draft QB Jalen Milroe in Round 2
The Giants sit at No. 34 in the second round, with the opportunity to take the third QB of the class. It’s safe to assume New York doesn’t plan to enter next regular season with a room of Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle. The ideal route is to add an established and reliable veteran to mentor and pave the way for a youthful QB like Milroe.
NFL analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic predicted the Giants will select the Alabama Crimson Tide star at No. 34.
One unique characteristic Milroe can offer the Giants is the ability to excel on and off the field. He was named the 35th recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, otherwise known as the “Academic Heisman.” It is awarded to the player who best displayed a combination of academic success, football performance, and leadership.
The leadership and academic success qualities are beneficial by way of him being willing and able to learn effectively from a veteran the Giants bring in. When his number is called, he’ll be prepared and know how to lead the team.
As for thriving on the field, Milroe finished the 2024 campaign with 2,844 passing yards for 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while rushing for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns. There’s clearly some polishing needed, but in the right circumstances, Milroe and Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers can become one of the NFL’s most unstoppable duos.
In Pro Football Network’s most recent 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Milroe also landed with the New York Giants, but in the third round at selection 65.
“After looking like a potential QB1 midway through the CFB season Milroe’s confidence, accuracy, and overall play drove off a cliff in the second half. However, few players in college football were more dangerous with the ball in their hands, and Milroe should at least see the field in set offensive packages in 2025 as he develops as a quarterback while fixing some mechanical tightness in his throwing motion.
If it doesn’t work out, he has the frame density, explosiveness, and vision to potentially be one of the most dangerous running backs in the league. But this is a talent that needs to fail into that role.”
Jalen Milroe’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 220 pounds
- Position: Quarterback
- School: Alabama
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
Alabama lays claim to three first-round quarterbacks over the past five NFL Draft cycles. Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones both went to AFC East teams, while Bryce Young was the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, joining the Carolina Panthers.
If you want to include all early-round picks, you could argue Jalen Hurts qualifies as well — given that he spent his early years at Alabama before transferring to Oklahoma.
Bottom line, the Crimson Tide have a line of development at QB, and Milroe could be next in line.
Hailing from Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas, Milroe had to wait his turn as a four-star recruit in the 2021 cycle. He preserved his redshirt after playing just four games during the 2021 season.
In 2022, Milroe logged his first start — a win against Texas A&M — but was most often used as a designed running threat.
Once Young left in 2023, however, the starting job was Milroe’s to take. At first, he won it over transfer addition Tyler Buchner. But after an early-season loss against Texas in which Milroe threw two interceptions, the redshirt sophomore was benched for Buchner.
That could’ve been the end. However, an underwhelming start from Buchner the following week allowed Milroe to take the reins again. And this time, he wouldn’t relinquish the job under center.
Milroe started the remainder of the 2023 season for Alabama, generating 28 total touchdowns to just four interceptions over that stretch. The Crimson Tide won every regular-season game from that point on, as well as the SEC title game against Georgia — earning a College Football Playoff appearance against Michigan as a result.
