The New York Giants landed a game-changing star on defense in the 2025 NFL Draft with the first-round selection of Abdul Carter.
Carter, who's long been compared to Micah Parsons for his pass-rushing upside, has a chance to become the most impactful Giants defender since Lawrence Taylor, which is the highest praise any player donning a Giants uniform could possibly receive.
It isn't hyperbole, either. Carter is that talented; he has game-wrecking upside, especially with teammates Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence.
And if a new 2026 NFL mock draft is accurate, Big Blue could land yet another game-wrecker in the first round next year: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
According to NFL Spin Zone, which has the Giants selecting fourth overall, New York takes the prospect who many draft analysts believe is the most talented player in next year's class, regardless of position.
"The New York Giants are in another brutal situation if they’re picking this high," NFL Spin Zone's Sayre Bedinger wrote. "They have the talent on paper on both sides of the ball to be much more competitive than this, but they need the Jaxson Dart pick to be a hit. I’m going to say they give Dart at least a year on the job to figure out if he can be something for them. If Dart doesn’t play much in 2025 and the Giants stink, they could change their GM and coach, which would put them in prime QB territory here. If Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are still around, they’ll take the best player on the board.
"Key X-factor for this season: Getting a fair evaluation on Jaxson Dart. The current regime traded up to make Dart a 1st-round selection, so they've got to see what he can do. Unless Russell Wilson is playing at an other-worldly level, getting Dart at least six starts is crucial."
Sure, if the New York Giants are picking in the top five again, wholesale changes in the front office and coaching staff are likely to be made. Even Jaxson Dart wouldn't be safe, especially if a prospect like Texas QB Arch Manning turns pro and is within the Giants' reach.
However, if Dart does enough good things as a rookie to give whatever regime is calling the shots in 2026 the confidence to know they have their quarterback, landing a prospect like Downs, one year after selecting Carter, would border on unfair.
It's the kind of silver lining every fan base hopes can come from a horrendous season, which is what it will take to land a prospect of Caleb Downs' caliber.
