New York Giants' first-round pick Abdul Carter was among the draftees who received prank calls on draft night. Carter, selected third overall, was led to believe he would be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who instead chose Travis Hunter. This incident also affected Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, among others, who received similar bogus calls. The NFL responded by imposing heavy fines, notably on the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, whose son was involved in the prank that misled Sanders.

Jakob Johnson, a former fullback for the New England Patriots, shared his thoughts on the challenges of living in New York City despite being a professional football player. Responding to a humorous social media post about the high cost of living for fictional New Yorkers, Johnson noted that even an NFL salary is often insufficient for comfortable living in Manhattan.

Last season, Johnson played for the New York Giants, earning around $338,700, primarily as a member of the practice squad. His comments reflect the unrealistic housing expectations portrayed in popular TV series like 'Friends' and 'How I Met Your Mother,' where characters inhabit luxurious apartments. Johnson, who began his NFL journey in New England after playing in Germany, has experienced the financial hurdles that come with pursuing a career in the league.

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, first-round picks are preparing to sign their contracts, coinciding with rookie minicamps set for early May. The contracts, spanning four years, follow a rookie wage scale that constrains salaries based on draft positions. This year, the signing bonuses are rising significantly, the highest increase since 2011, reflecting growth in team salary caps. Each slot has a defined spending ceiling and floor, limiting contract negotiations primarily to the payment schedule of bonuses rather than salary amounts. Furthermore, rookie contracts feature critical first-year salary cap numbers, determining overall contract value, and teams can exercise a fifth-year option for first-round picks based on performance. With various factors influencing these contracts, including Pro Bowl selections, teams are keenly assessing their new talents as they look forward to the upcoming season.

During the recent NFL draft, rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter of the New York Giants fell victim to a prank call from someone claiming to be associated with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who held the second overall pick. Although the call informed him he would be selected second overall, the Jaguars chose Travis Hunter instead. Carter was ultimately picked by the Giants at No. 3. This incident follows a series of prank calls made to various players during the draft, with the NFL investigating the matter further.

The New York Giants' 2025 NFL draft strategy has garnered significant praise, particularly for the selections made by general manager Joe Schoen. With seven draft picks, the Giants successfully filled critical roles on both offense and defense. Notably, they selected Abdul Carter as the third overall pick, a player expected to make an immediate impact on their defense. However, it was the acquisition of running back Cam Skattebo that has been highlighted as one of the biggest steals of the draft.

Skattebo, who ranked as the No. 51 player and RB3 in the Pro Football Focus Big Board, was drafted in the fourth round. Despite not having elite speed, he brings considerable strength and power to the field, having averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 21 touchdowns in his senior season at Arizona State. With Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary ahead of him on the depth chart, Skattebo's determination and on-field tenacity could lead to significant playing time early in his career, making him a player to watch for fantasy enthusiasts.