The New York Giants might not be locked in on a quarterback with their third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but that hasn’t stopped them from checking every box behind the scenes—including hosting one of the most productive passers in college football for a visit.
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord, a New Jersey native and former Ohio State signal-caller, visited East Rutherford on Tuesday as part of the Giants’ final wave of pre-draft Top 30 meetings, per Jordan Schultz. It’s not a headline-grabber like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, but it could be a meaningful glimpse into New York’s draft priorities.
After signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, the Giants stabilized the position on paper. But those moves were always about short-term competency. The long-term outlook remains wide open. Holding the No. 3 pick in the draft, Joe Schoen has options—including defensive stars like Colorado’s Travis Hunter or Penn State’s Abdul Carter. It’s not guaranteed that a quarterback is the pick, especially with Cam Ward expected to go No. 1 to Tennessee. He won't make it to three.
Giants kick tires on New Jersey-born QB with record-setting resume
McCord isn’t a household name. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback put up gaudy numbers in his lone season at Syracuse after transferring from Ohio State, leading the FBS in passing yards (4,779), completions (391), and yards per game (367.6). He also threw 34 touchdowns and finished 10th in Heisman voting.
Per Schultz, McCord has impressed teams throughout the draft process with his film work and whiteboard sessions. He’s viewed by some evaluators as one of the more undervalued quarterbacks in the class—thanks to his size, poise, and ability to read defenses. He also rallied Syracuse from a 21-point deficit against Miami, showing grit and leadership when it mattered most.
Still, McCord isn’t a sure thing. His lack of athleticism limits his off-script ceiling, and his arm strength—while functional—probably won’t blow anyone away. He profiles more like a future backup or game manager, but one who could stick in the league for a while with the right coaching and development.
And that’s right where the Giants come in.
With Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka, and Shea Tierney all overseeing QB development, McCord could be a low-risk, high-floor project who doesn’t need to be rushed into action. If the G-Men use their top picks on defense or offensive line help, and McCord slides into Round 3 or 4, it’s not hard to imagine them pulling the trigger.
Ultimately, this visit reinforces a key point: the Giants are leaving no stone unturned. Whether it’s Sanders or a Day 3 flier like McCord, they’re committed to finding a long-term answer. And McCord, fresh off one of the most statistically dominant seasons in college football, might just be the Jersey-bred sleeper pick that makes sense when nobody’s looking.
