Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reported on Thursday that the Bills and Giants are a pair of teams to watch closely. With the Giants looking for a quarterback of the future, they could become a viable trade partner if Buffalo decides to move back from the No. 30 overall pick.
Buscaglia also pointed out that the strong relationship between Bills general manager Brandon Beane and Giants GM Joe Schoen could play a role in this potential trade. Schoen served as Beane’s assistant in Buffalo from 2017 to 2021.
A lot will likely hinge on which defensive prospects, especially cornerbacks and defensive tackles, are still on the board when the Bills make their pick. That could ultimately influence whether they decide to trade down or stay put at No. 30.
Bills, Giants Trade Rumors: Possible 2025 NFL Draft Deal
Buffalo’s Trade Perspective
The Bills find themselves in a tough position heading into the draft. Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant is a great fit for their needs, but his stock has been rising lately, making it less likely he’ll be available at No. 30. In fact, he was selected at No. 16 by the Arizona Cardinals in the Last Word on Sports writers’ mock draft.
If Grant is off the board, the most logical move for Buffalo would be to target a cornerback. However, with many cornerbacks on the fringe of the first round, trading down might offer the best value. Moving back could allow the Bills to accumulate an extra pick or two and still land a quality cornerback in the early-to-mid second round.
For instance, the Bills could likely trade down a few spots and still have their pick of a few solid cornerbacks, such as Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston, Ole Miss’ Trey Amos, East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr., Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas, or Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison. This would give them more flexibility while still addressing a key need.
Any of those five cornerbacks could step in and challenge for a starting role opposite Christian Benford in the Buffalo secondary. Adding another pick to their already impressive 10-pick draft haul, while still addressing a critical need without sacrificing much value, would be a smart move for GM Brandon Beane.
New York’s Trade Perspective
The Giants’ quarterback situation is essentially a one-year fix. Veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston will compete for the starting role, while Tommy DeVito sits third on the depth chart, serving as little more than a backup option for the future.
Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward is almost guaranteed to be the first overall pick, headed to the Tennessee Titans. With that in mind, Giants GM Joe Schoen might hesitate to select Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders at No. 3. This line of thinking aligns with the decision to bring in both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on short-term contracts, keeping the quarterback situation fluid for now.
Instead, the Giants might opt to select someone like Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter to strengthen their defense and address an immediate need. They could then target a developmental quarterback later in the draft, with their second pick currently slated for No. 34, the second pick in Round 2.
The Giants could look at a range of quarterbacks later in the draft, such as Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, or Louisville’s Tyler Shough. Other intriguing options could be Texas’s Quinn Ewers or Ohio State’s Will Howard, depending on how the draft unfolds. These players could offer future potential while allowing the Giants to focus on immediate needs in the first round.
Will Bills, Giants Make Blockbuster Draft Swap?
A lot of the NFL chatter leading up to the draft doesn’t hold up under closer scrutiny, as the pre-draft period is often filled with smokescreens. However, the trade rumors surrounding the Bills and Giants could actually present a win-win scenario for both teams, with each side potentially benefiting from a deal that addresses their specific needs.
Buffalo could likely land the No. 34 pick and one of New York’s two third-round selections in a trade. With 11 total picks, GM Brandon Beane would have the flexibility to explore various trade-up options or simply use the extra picks to bolster the roster with depth players on cost-effective rookie contracts.
At No. 30, the Giants could select from the second-tier quarterback prospects and secure their preferred option before the end of Day 1. Additionally, the first pick on Day 2 is typically a prime trade target, as teams in need of a quarterback often try to move up and grab one of the remaining signal-callers.
Considering the long-standing friendship between Beane and Schoen, the pieces of a trade seem to align well. While there are many factors to consider — with the Bills likely wanting to assess whether Grant is still on the board before making a move — the foundation for a deal is certainly in place. The trade could make sense for both teams, especially if they can each address key needs.
At the very least, it’s something to watch closely when the draft begins next week. With both teams having clear motivations and needs, the Bills-Giants trade rumors could turn into one of the most intriguing storylines as the draft unfolds.
