The Giants finished 6-11 in 2023, and quarterback Daniel Jones only played in six games and threw six INTs in his shortened season. Longtime running back Saquon Barkley had a solid season and now faces free agency. The team needs help on both sides of the ball and has cap space to make moves.
1.06 – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
With Joe Alt already off the board, this decision becomes easy. Nabers would have been the top receiver in the draft in the last few years since the 2021 NFL Draft. He is dynamic after the catch and explosive before the catch. He reminds me of Brandon Aiyuk before the catch and DJ Moore afterward. Nabers immediately slots in as the Giants’ best receiver.
2.39 – Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The Giants double-dip at receiver with this pick. I want to grab an offensive tackle to move Neal to guard, but nobody is left that justifies a pick this high. Instead, I grab a starting slot receiver, solidifying a much-upgraded receiver room. McConkey is an incredibly shifty route runner. Throughout Senior Bowl week, McConkey excelled at getting separation. With Nabers, Jalin Hyatt, and McConkey, the Giants’ receiver room is no longer one of the worst in the league.
2.47 – Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
This is the pick where Giants fans come for my head. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Giants snag a QB in the second round. Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. were off the board in this mock, but I am high on Rattler. Rattler still suffers from clips of a show he was on in high school, with people referencing character concerns. There are no character concerns anymore. He has developed into a great leader. Rattler has a strong arm with a quick release and played well down the stretch in 2023 and 2024 despite not having elite blocking and an elite cast of weapons around him.
Walked into mobile wanting to love Michael Penix and Bo Nix, and the QB that stood out the most for me was @GamecockFB QB Spencer Rattler.
— Ray G (@RayGQue) February 2, 2024
Let him land on a team where he can continue to grow and develop. I was very impressed. 📈 #SeniorBowl #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #2024NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/kYpqzyghYa
With Daniel Jones recovering from his ACL tear and Tommy DeVito recovering from not being a good quarterback, this draft pick could be a cheap dart throw at answering questions about the quarterback position long-term in New York. Hitting on a quarterback on a rookie contract could be the only way for the Giants to solve their QB problems with Daniel Jones’s mammoth contract hanging over their heads.
3.70 – Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
Replacing Barkley will not be easy, but it starts with grabbing the best running back in the draft. If not for his ACL tear, Brooks would likely get drafted much earlier than this. He’s an Aaron Jones clone capable of being a three-down back. In my opinion, he is the only back in the draft with that capability. ACL tears are pretty cut and dry with modern sports science techniques, and while he may have a slow rookie season, look for Brooks to break out as a top-ten back in the league in Year 2.
4.107 – Khryee Jackson, CB, Oregon
When it hits the third day, my strategy would be to look for upside. Jackson has that in abundance. He has good size at the cornerback position and good speed as well. It’ll be interesting to see how he tests at the combine. There are flaws to Jackson’s game, but he has the potential to be a starting outside corner in the NFL.
5.139 – Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State
Bell is an interesting prospect. He’s extremely versatile, taking carries out of the backfield at South Carolina. He’s an athletic receiving first tight end. With Waller on the downside of his career, the Giants take a shot at their next receiving threat from the tight end position. I think Bell will be taken on the second day, but he was available in this mock. Analysts are all over the place on Bell, and he would be a steal on Day 3.
6.184 – Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Once again, we are looking for upside this late in the draft. McCaffrey is new to the receiver position, but I don’t have to mention the bloodlines. He has the athleticism, but he is very raw. With some time on the practice squad, McCaffrey could eventually threaten Hyatt to become the Giants’ third-best receiver or at least push Hyatt to be the best version of himself.
Conclusion
I hate that we didn’t come away with a tackle, but you never want to reach for positional need in the draft. We got what the Giants need—weapons. Nabers has the upside to one day be a top-ten receiver in the league. Whether it’s Jones, Rattler, or someone else throwing him the ball, I have confidence that he will be a superstar. We also got a starting slot receiver and a starting running back. Three day one starters and some players with starter upside are all you can ask for from any draft class.
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