The New York Giants were in contention for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In fact, they were on track to secure it until a significant 45-33 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16 altered their course.
By the end of the regular season, the Giants wrapped up with a 3-14 record, landing them the third overall pick. That win may have come at a cost, potentially taking them out of the running for their future franchise quarterback, as the Tennessee Titans are widely expected to select Cam Ward with the top pick.
The second overall pick, held by the Cleveland Browns, is less predictable. There’s a chance the Giants could try to trade up to ensure they land their preferred prospect—but at what price?
New York Giants’ trade cost to land Travis Hunter revealed
The New York Giants might miss out on drafting Cam Ward, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still walk away with the top talent in this year’s draft class—unless the Cleveland Browns grab him first.
That said, the Giants could still make a move to land the widely regarded best prospect, Travis Hunter, by trading up with the Browns for the No. 2 overall pick. So, what would it take for New York to make that jump? Surprisingly, the price might be lower than expected.
According to NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Giants could be targeting Hunter, and acquiring the second pick might only require them to part with a third-, fourth-, and fifth-round selection.
“Selecting Travis Hunter would make more sense for the New York Giants than going with Abdul Carter, mainly because Hunter fills multiple positional needs for them. The Giants have already invested heavily in edge rushers, signing Brian Burns to a big contract and using the No. 5 pick in 2022 on Kayvon Thibodeaux. If the Cleveland Browns are targeting Carter, they might be open to moving down one spot in exchange for a reasonable return. According to the draft value chart, the Giants giving up their third-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks to move up would be considered a fair deal”.
SI’s Albert Breer on New York Giants trading up for Travis Hunter
Typically, teams have to pay a higher premium to trade up early in the draft, especially when targeting quarterbacks. But this year’s class has a unique structure—with Carter and Hunter standing out as the top two talents before a significant drop-off. That dynamic could make the Browns more flexible about trading back and still landing one of the elite prospects. The real question is whether the Giants are willing to part with three mid-round picks to make it happen.
If landing a versatile starter like Hunter at two positions only costs a few mid-round picks, it might be a price worth paying. The alternative? Doubling up on edge rushers and using Carter in a limited rotational role as a rookie. While Carter could still develop into a valuable piece, especially if Thibodeaux continues to underperform, Hunter offers greater overall value—even after a trade up.