What mock drafts are saying as we approach the NFL draft

While Ward was sensational in his lone year with the Hurricanes, his path to being the (potential) No. 1 overall pick was equally unique and unlikely, as NBC News’s Andrew Greif reported this week.

What will the Giants do with the third pick?

New York seems to be in a bit of a swing position with the third pick of the first round. There’s an overwhelming likelihood Ward and Colorado star Travis Hunter will go with the first two picks.

The Giants, meanwhile, have been a rumored spot for Hunter’s collegiate teammate Shedeur Sanders, who told NBC News earlier this month that no quarterback would be better prepared to handle the New York spotlight than him.

But the Sanders-Giants hype may be more wishful thinking than anything else.

Dvorchak, ESPN, The Ringer, Sharp Football and Yahoo all have New York taking Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter third overall. While the Giants need help all over the roster, New York deciding to forego a quarterback could speak to the lack of faith in passing prospects in this year’s class.

New York is seemingly set at the QB position in the short term after signing Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson this offseason. But as the saying goes, if you have two quarterbacks, then you have none.

So, where will Sanders go?

Sanders is sure to draw a lot of intrigue and interest wherever he does land. Though he’s seemingly not a sure bet to go in the first round, there is one popular destination for the son of Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders: The Pittsburgh Steelers.

ESPN and Sharp Football both have the Steelers selecting Sanders with the 21st pick in the first round, though Dvorchak, The Ringer and Yahoo disagree. (Yahoo’s Charles McDonald and Nate Tice notably have Pittsburgh taking Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.)

The lack of clarity on Sanders is instructive of this draft as a whole. Outside of Ward, there doesn’t seem to be a quarterback that everyone can agree on.

At the same time, teams often get desperate when it comes to finding a player at the sport’s most important position. That means whether it’s Sanders, Milroe or someone else, one organization could be taking a massive swing whenever the second quarterback of the draft is ultimately selected.

Will there be trades?

Perhaps the most difficult part of the draft to anticipate is which teams will trade up or down. Is there a prospect someone has fallen in love with and has to go get? Is there a team with too many needs that has to amass picks?

The Browns, for example, have been long connected to Hunter with the second pick, but may also be a trade candidate.