The New York Giants made waves with their activity in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, and what was seen on television is only a portion of what actually went on that night.

As it turns out, the Giants actively pursued the Tennessee Titans‘ coveted No. 1 pick, offering way more than they should have, only to be turned down.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Giants offered the No. 3 overall pick, their 2026 first-round pick, and “other picks” — plural — to the Titans.

The Titans were so locked into picking Miami quarterback Cam Ward that they didn’t even entertain offers like this one, and it will be interesting to see if other teams have similar stories.

Up until a few days ago, the Titans said they were still listening to offers, but after the league consensus was they weren’t going to trade it, general manager Mike Borgonzi finally said that they decided to keep the pick.

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Still, the Giants were trying for the top spot, and had they gotten it, they likely would have selected Ward for themselves.

Joe Schoen has received high praise for the first round of the draft. Selecting Carter makes the Giants’ defensive line a monster to face, and trading up to select Jaxson Dart solidifies the future of the quarterback position. Having him sit behind Russell Wilson in his first season will do wonders for his transition to the NFL, and he will have a much better grasp on the game when he hits the field as a starter.

It’s clear the Giants are taking this draft very seriously, though. They’ve been very thorough in their evaluations, and sometimes the players just don’t fall where you’d like them to. Carter was the best pick the Giants could have made at three, and he instantly improves the defense.