Joe Schoen was armed with cap space in his second offseason as Giants general manager, so he made some splashy moves, re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones, trading for tight end Darren Waller and signing linebacker Bobby Okereke. But Schoen has emphasized that the NFL Draft remains the bedrock of roster construction.
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With several veterans making top dollar (and more teammates set to join them soon), it will become even more important for Schoen to hit on cost-controlled draft picks. The good news is he’ll have plenty of opportunities for hits since he’s slated to have 10 picks in the upcoming draft.
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New York Giants NFL Draft 2023 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs
To get a feel for how the draft could play out, I used FanSpeak’s mock draft simulator. This isn’t a wish list of prospects who could be available — every other pick was simulated by FanSpeak, so I had to choose from who was available when the Giants were on the clock. I made my picks based on what I think Schoen will do.
Round 1, pick No. 25: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
It’s impossible to ignore the amount of attention the Giants have shown wide receivers during the pre-draft process. Although the Giants have added some pass catchers this offseason, wide receiver remains an unsettled position, particularly beyond this season. Despite a 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame, Flowers has the versatility to play inside and outside. The dynamic athlete has the separation ability that is coveted by the Giants. Flowers would line up all over the field as the Giants strive to surround Jones with playmakers.
Wide receivers Jordan Addison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston and Jalin Hyatt were off the board before the Giants’ pick, which would create some uneasiness in the team’s war room on draft night. But Flowers may be the best fit of the wide receiver options for the Giants, so they’d be happy to land him. It was tough to pass on Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks, but the Giants’ apparent desire to continue stockpiling receiving threats earned Flowers the nod.
Round 2, No. 57: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
It’s hard to imagine the Giants are comfortable with the current plan to patch together center with converted guards. So taking a center early in the draft to solidify the position long-term seems likely. The 6-foot-4, 301-pound Schmitz is NFL-ready after making 27 starts in college, so he could step in immediately as the Giants’ center. Schmitz is a strong run blocker who has the intelligence to handle the pre-snap reads at center. Schmitz doesn’t have the athletic traits to be a star, but he could be a solid piece of the line for years.
With Joe Schoen on the road for pro days, the book is mostly closed on free agency. So here's a look at the Giants' projected lineup as the focus shifts to the draft:
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) March 23, 2023
Round 3, No. 89: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
Passing on cornerbacks in the first two rounds was uncomfortable, but this draft class is deep at the position. That could allow the Giants to wait until the third round to land a player like Stevenson. Stevenson’s 32-inch arms are ideal for press coverage, and his 4.45-second 40-yard dash is fast enough to play man coverage. The 6-foot, 198-pound Stevenson should be able to step in as the Giants’ No. 2 corner opposite Adoree’ Jackson early.
Round 4, No. 128: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
Running back is a sneaky need for the Giants with Saquon Barkley set to play on the franchise tag this season. There should be an abundance of quality backs available in the middle rounds, so the Giants can wait to land a player like Bigsby on Day 3. Bigsby’s big-play ability would be a perfect complement to Barkley this season, and the 6-foot, 210-pounder could develop into a focal point of a productive tandem in the future.
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Round 5, No. 160: Andre Carter, edge, Army
Carter, who had 14 1/2 sacks in 2021, could step in as a situational pass rusher initially. The Giants need to inject some pass-rushing juice at outside linebacker behind Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari. The 6-foot-7, 256-pound Carter has a lot of room to grow. He has a high ceiling as a three-down player as his body develops, so it’s worth taking a shot on his upside at this stage of the draft.
Round 5, No. 172: Anthony Johnson Jr., S, Iowa State
The Giants received this compensatory pick from tight end Evan Engram’s departure in free agency last year. They have question marks at safety after Julian Love signed with the Seahawks this offseason. The Giants don’t figure to find an immediate starter in the fifth round, but the 6-foot, 205-pound Johnson has some intriguing physical traits and a cornerback background that provides versatility. He could develop into a quality third safety.
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Round 6, No. 209: Cam Jones, LB, Indiana
The Giants got this pick as part of the Kadarius Toney trade with the Chiefs. They dealt their sixth-round pick to the Texans for cornerback Keion Crossen in 2021. The Giants took two linebackers on Day 3 of the draft last year, and they figure to continue investing at the position since it’s also a spot with special teams value. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound Jones could start his career as a core special-teamer with the potential to develop into a quality backup linebacker.
Round 7, No. 240: PJ Mustipher, DL, Penn State
The Giants acquired this pick in the trade for offensive lineman Ben Bredeson before the 2021 season. This isn’t a strong defensive tackle class, which explains why Schoen aggressively pursued veteran Rakeem Nunez-Roches in free agency and continues to monitor other veteran options. Taking the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Mustipher at this point is strictly about depth, as he’d likely spend the season on the practice squad with the potential to develop into a rotational defensive tackle.
Round 7, No. 243: Malik Knowles, WR, Kansas State
Knowles has potential as a wide receiver, but his best asset is his kick return ability. Knowles returned three kickoffs for touchdowns during his career at Kansas State, averaging 27.7 yards per return. That could be the 6-foot-2, 196-pounder’s ticket to a roster spot as the Giants search for a more dynamic returner.
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Round 7, No. 254: Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville
The Giants’ third seventh-round selection is another comp pick, produced by Crossen’s free-agent departure to Miami last year. The perk of having three picks in the final round is the Giants can add players without needing to get into bidding wars for them in undrafted free agency. That could be particularly valuable at quarterback, where coveted prospects are in higher demand after the draft. Adding a developmental quarterback this year to sit behind Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor makes sense, with the hopes the Giants can then have an affordable No. 2 quarterback. Cunningham is a bigger threat as a runner than a passer, but that could work as a stopgap in the Giants offense if Jones misses time in the future.
Final draft card
First round: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Second round: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
Third round: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
Fourth round: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
Fifth round: Andre Carter, edge, Army; Anthony Johnson Jr., S, Iowa State
Sixth round: Cam Jones, LB, Indiana
Seventh round: PJ Mustipher, DL, Penn State; Malik Knowles, WR, Kansas State; Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville
(Top photo of Zay Flowers: John Tlumacki / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
