Joe Schoen drafted an offensive lineman on Saturday for the primary time since 2023: Purdue’s Marcus Mbow.
The Giants‘ 6-4, 303-pounder slipped down the board due to some teams’ medical issues. He performed solely six video games for the Boilermakers in 2023 because of a damaged proper leg.
However Mbow (pronounced “Bo”) returned as a 2024 Honorable Point out All-Huge 10 choice whereas enjoying in 12 video games as a junior, earlier than leaving faculty a yr early. And Schoen stated the Giants didn’t have issues about Mbow’s well being.
Brian Daboll stated Mbow — a former faculty teammate of Giants operating again Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s — will begin out at sort out with the Giants. However he has performed each proper sort out (18 video games) and proper guard (14) in faculty, so he has place versatility.
And he has a imply streak that might profit the Giants’ entrance.
“Putting people on the ground, winning reps, demoralizing people, it’s always fun,” Mbow stated on a convention name. “It’s definitely part of the reason I love the game.”
Mbo is Schoen’s first offensive line draft choose because the Giants chosen heart John Michael Schmitz No. 57 general within the 2023 draft’s second spherical.
The Giants GM insisted this offseason that the staff’s current offensive line was higher than critics steered when wholesome. And Schoen solely made two free agent signings at sort out: James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe.
It was crucial that Schoen add youth, depth and expertise to the road on this draft, although.
Schoen’s monitor document drafting linemen is just not robust, from his 2022 class of first-rounder Evan Neal, third-rounder Josh Ezeudu and fifth-rounder Marcus McKethan to Schmitz final yr.
Schoen introduced Saturday that the staff won’t be choosing up Neal’s fifth-year choice for 2026. He’s anticipated to maneuver to protect.
Schoen additionally signed veterans Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten one yr in the past to pair with left sort out Andrew Thomas and Schmitz. However the 2024 line nonetheless wasn’t ok.
It’s particularly necessary that the road solidifies now as a result of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are usually not as cell as Daniel Jones was. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart can run, however the Giants stated they intend to let him sit and develop.
It was clear from Mbow’s tone throughout his first convention name with the New York media that he was upset he fell into the fifth spherical.
He held a draft occasion on Friday and wasn’t chosen, so he was simply hanging out at house along with his household on Saturday when he bought New York’s name at No. 154.
It doesn’t matter the place he was picked, after all. It simply issues how he performs.
The Giants’ offense wants assist, beginning up entrance.
GIANTS CLOSE WITH A 7TH ROUND PAIR
Schoen completed his fourth draft as Giants GM by making two picks within the seventh spherical: Nebraska tight finish Thomas Fidone II and Oklahoma State CB Korie Black, respectively.
Fidone, 22, is an elite athlete who as soon as ranked forward of Raiders standout Brock Bowers within the 2021 highschool recruiting class.
The 6-5, 243-pounder tore his ACL in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022, however he stayed on the sphere for the Cornhuskers the previous two seasons and flashes a very good catch radius, receiving capability and willingness to dam.
Schoen now has used three draft picks on tight ends in 4 years: Daniel Bellinger (2022 fourth-round), Theo Johnson (2024 fourth-round) and Fidone. And he traded away a third-round choose for the now-retired Darren Waller in 2023.
Black, 22, in the meantime, ran a 4.35 40-yard sprint within the pre-draft course of. And the 6-0, 192-pounder led the Cowboys with three interceptions final season as an honorable point out All-Huge 12 choice.
GIANTS 2025 NFL DRAFT
Spherical 1, Choose 3: Abdul Carter, edge, Penn State
Spherical 1, Choose 25 (by way of commerce): Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (Giants commerce picks 34, 99 and future third to Texans)
Spherical 3, Choose 65: Darius Alexander, DL, Toledo
Spherical 4, Choose 105: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Spherical 5, Choose 154: Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
Spherical 7, Choose 219: Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska
Spherical 7, Choose 246: Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State
Initially Printed: April 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM EDT
