NFL HC Reportedly Estimates 13-14 Owners Are 'Heavily' Involved in Draft Process

One NFL head coach believes that about half of team owners are "heavily" involved in their organization's approach to the draft, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

"I had a conversation with a current head coach about this recently: How many owners are truly involved on that pick? And we were estimating, probably around 13 or 14 are involved with the draft, heavily," Russini said at the 30:00 mark of Thursday's Scoop City episode.

"I'm not saying, 'You are picking Shedeur Sanders right now, do as I say.' But they are very much a part of the process."

Russini expanded on some of the different influences she believes owners can have on their organization's draft process.

"Not every owner allows the football people to make these calls in the draft room. And when I say that, I mean there's levels of influence," Russini said. "You've got those owners that will sit in the room, or sit in on some of these pre-draft meetings, and their body language can tell you what they want."

Russini continued: "And then you have owners that I know have made strong suggestions of players that they like, and who they would want to see this organization choose with that first pick. I know GMs that have to get approval on who they decide."

Russini's comments come as the New York Giants, who hold the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft, reportedly scheduled a series of private workouts with quarterbacks including Shedeur Sanders, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart and Kyle McCord ahead of the draft.

"I think there's a thought out there that if they're watching workouts this late, then they must be split in the building. That must mean that HC and GM are not on the same page, or ownership is looking at this and going, 'You better be sure, you better make sure there is not a quarterback on this class,'" Russini said.

That matches recent comments by ESPN's Todd McShay, who said Tuesday on the Ryen Russillo Podcast that "it's a little bit contentious inside the Giants draft room, and there are some people who are pushing hard for Shedeur."

"There are some people that are pushing hard for Shedeur. I wonder, at this point in time, with ownership— We hear a lot of stories, after the fact, of ownership getting involved when it comes to the quarterback position and drafting that high," McShay said.

With the Tennessee Titans expected to take Miami signal caller Cam Ward at No. 1, the Giants are currently projected to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3 in Bleacher Report's latest 2025 NFL mock draft.

The 2025 NFL draft begins next Friday in Green Bay.