In what will truly be one of the most critical drafts in team history, the NY Giants will need to come away with multiple starters to begin turning the tide.
It’s that time of year again — mock draft season! Everyone’s favorite. As usual, NY Giants fans are all over the map in terms of what positions they want to address and where, although that’s to be expected when dealing with a team that has as many holes as Big Blue.
Heading into the 2020 offseason, the NY Giants’ biggest needs are offensive tackle, edge rusher, center, linebacker, and cornerback. While Dave Gettleman has surely made his share of swing and misses, he nailed the most important pick of his career in 2019 by bucking the trends and selecting Daniel Jones out of Duke.
With the quarterback of the future firmly set, Big Blue can finally begin to fill out the rest of its roster without worrying how many years Eli Manning may have left. The Giants will head into free agency with anywhere between $60-85M in cap space, which is important because the team can’t possibly fill all its needs in this draft alone (or really with the space and the picks together).
Depending on what mock draft or big board you read, most experts have players all over the map after the first handful of picks. Even though they seem to have lost out on Chase Young, the NY Giants are in a sweet spot in the draft where they can entertain trading down and still land a premium prospect in round one.
Dave Gettleman has famously never traded down – at ANY point in the draft – in his career as a GM. This seems to be the year that he might change up that mindset, as the Giants are going to need some extra picks to make up for the Leonard Williams trade and sliding down the draft rankings late in the year.
Without any further ado, here’s my first 7 round 2020 mock draft NY Giants scenario.
RD 1 (4): NY Giants trade with LA Chargers
Giants get: LAC 2020 1st (6) LAC 2020 2nd (37), 2020 4th (76), 2021 5th (TBD)
LAC get: NYG 2020 1st (4)
RD 1 (6): NY Giants select Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia
Depending on who you ask, Dave Gettleman’s intentions of finally trading down in a draft range anywhere from taking it to the bank to forget about it. To me, after hearing how different a tune Gettleman was signing at his year-end presser, it seems that he finally may be changing how he operates. That means the NY Giants do the right thing and trade down here while still grabbing one of (if not the) top offensive tackle on the board.
The Giants make out beautifully in this trade, accumulating 507 points of value instead of the 200 points the draft chart calls for. As we’ve seen time and time again, that chart can pretty much be ignored when dealing with the top ten of the draft and a team jumping others for a quarterback. The Colts got almost double the points out of the NY Jets in a similar deal in 2018, so this really isn’t asking for too much. Having those back-to-back picks at 36 and 37 gives Big Blue plenty of flexibility.
Andrew Thomas is a perfect example of NFL draft ‘experts’ getting too cute this time of year. After Thomas spent all year long as the universal top tackle on mostly everyone’s board, he now is beginning to drop after no more games have been played (figure that one out).
It’s hard to blame the draft guys, as by this time of year they’ve released so many mocks and big boards they need to change things for the sake of it sometimes. Jedrick Wills Jr. has skyrocketed up boards and would be a solid pick here, but in my mind, Big Blue needs to focus on a pass protecting left tackle – Thomas fits that bill in spades.
A 2018 and 2019 first-team All-American – playing in the toughest conference in college by a mile – Thomas should step right into the NFL on day one and be a competent starter. Georgia plays in a true pro-style offense, giving even more reason to be excited about the mammoth 6’5 320 LB lineman.
Expect to see Thomas climb back up draft boards after the combine and everything settles down, but he should be there for Big Blue at six (or four if they don’t trade down).
Overall, this is by far the best round one scenario for the NY Giants; trading down, accumulating picks and still landing one of the top tackles in the draft. It’s been far too long since Big Blue had a homegrown, blue-chip tackle and it’s time to change that.
RD 2 (36): NY Giants select Justin Jefferson WR LSU
I’m expecting this pick to get the most flack out of any I selected in this mock draft and that’s fine. I’m simply not nearly as high on the NY Giants wideout group as most other people. Even if you are high on the collection of talent, you’d have to admit that the unit is lacking a big-bodied bully that can win one-on-one battles on the outside.
In most other drafts – where the wideout class isn’t as loaded as this one – Jefferson would surely find himself squarely in the first round picture. He still could jump up there after a good combine, as I’m not sure what else he could have done in college to get his name called in round one.
After a solid 2018 sophomore campaign at LSU that saw him lead the team with 875 yards and six touchdowns, Jefferson exploded – along with the rest of the offense – to the tune of 111 receptions, 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns in the SEC in 2019. Jefferson didn’t make his mark as a freshman, failing to make a reception.
Standing 6’3 tall, Jefferson is a prototype ‘X’ receiver and is a legit deep threat. The thought of Daniel Jones and him connecting on deep bombs should make any NY Giants fan giddy. Jefferson’s route tree is as well-rounded as they come and he’ll make his mark immediately in the NFL.
While you surely could make the argument that there are bigger needs than wide-receiver on the Giants’ roster, there is too much value here to pass up on the LSU star here. Many would be upset that Big Blue didn’t come away with an edge rusher among its first two picks here, but don’t forget in this scenario we’ve got the next pick too, as well as plenty of cap space to chase one.
One more positive on Jefferson is that he had his biggest game of the year in the national semifinal against Oklahoma, racking up 14 catches for 227 yards and four touchdowns. He also had big games against Texas and Florida while making some of the biggest catches of the game against Clemson and Alabama.
RD 2 (37) from LAC: Zack Baun EDGE Wisconsin
Baun has been mocked to the NY Giants as commonly as you could ever see a second-round pick mocked. With many believing Big Blue will take either Isaiah Simmons or a tackle in the first round, Gettleman waits to address edge rusher after knowing he’s got two high seconds in the bank after the Chargers trade.
There are some concerns regarding Baun, namely that he was pretty much a one-year wonder after dealing with a nagging foot injury during his first two seasons. After compiling just 7.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2018, the explosive edge rusher went off in 2019 by racking up 19.5 TFL and 12.5 sacks to go along with an interception (returned for a TD) and two forced fumbles.
Baun has all the tools in his disposal that you’d hope a premier edge rusher would — explosiveness, a nasty hand punch, fluid hips and plenty of moves. His effort is never questioned, and he projects to be a solid run defender at the next level. Unlike most edge rushers, he actually can go out and cover a pass in a pinch as well.
Baun has the type of ceiling that could see him land in the first round when it’s all said and done, but the NY Giants come away with a day one starter here.
RD 3 (98): Nick Harris C Washington
In what you could argue is the biggest value pick in this mock draft so far, Nick Harris falling to the NY Giants here would be a dream scenario. Few players are as all over the map on the expert’s mock drafts, with him being projected to go anywhere from the second-to-fourth rounds.
History tells us that centers and interior lineman tend to fall on draft day, and Big Blue coming away with it’s left tackle and center of the future while having a third-round pick that’s 30 slots lower than it should have been would make the Leonard Williams trade sting a lot less.
Harris has the acumen to go much higher, making the 2019 second-team All-America squad, while also having two first-team All-Pac 12selections under his belt as a center in 2018-2019. He has the versatility to play guard as well, playing many snaps there in his first two seasons.
Harris’ main strength is something the NY Giants direly lack – second-level run blockers. As we’ve seen with Kyle Shannahan’s 49ers, second-level run blocking is paramount in today’s NFL, and no one is as important in that regard as your anchor. Harris has few – if any – red flags and should be the pick here if he’s still around with center being possibly the weakest spot on the entire Big Blue roster.
RD 4 (107): Markus Bailey LB Purdue
Another player that’s truly all over the place in mock drafts, Markus Bailey’s only true concerns lie in the injury department. The NY Giants already have Ryan Connelly – who looks very promising – and add another sideline-to-sideline guy without having to spend any of their free agency money here.
The injury history on Bailey is not pretty. The dynamic linebacker tore his ACL in both his freshman and senior (fifth-year) seasons, causing many to compare him to Jaylon Smith of the Cowboys. At his peak, he has that kind of talent, demonstrated by his monster 2018 campaign that saw him compile 115 tackles, 9TFL, 6.5 sacks, and an interception.
Bailey put forth a similar effort in 2017 with 89 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 sacks, and an interception, while also chipping in four picks and 97 tackles in his redshirt freshman season in 2016. Standing at 6’1 and weighing in at 240 pounds, Bailey is a true thumper but still is as rangy as they come.
Bailey projects as a weakside linebacker in the pros, but he should have no problem being an inside linebacker in the NY Giants’ base 3-4 scheme. He’s not Isaiah Simmons, but he’s a decent consolation prize in round four.
RD 4 (109) From Chargers: Hakeem Adeniji OG Kansas
Adeniji will most likely be a project player when he starts his NFL career, but for the NY Giants that’s perfectly fine. With Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler penciled in at guard for 2020 he can spend the year refining his skills after playing tackle in college.
At 6’4 302 LBs he’s a tad small for a guard, but he’ll make up for it with his footwork. Pairing Adeniji with Nick Gates gives Big Blue two legit swing pieces as backups and would give them a solid – and finally young – offensive line.
With Zeitler potentially being a 2021 cap casualty, he could find himself as a starter sooner rather than later.
RD 5 (150): Josh Uche Edge Michigan
The NY Giants come away with yet another Big Ten linebacker here (the third one in this mock), which may sound like a mouthful but not when you consider how weak the projected 2020 linebacking core is. Uche has a sky-high ceiling, although he doesn’t project to do much else than rush the passer at the next level.
However, that’s perfectly fine for Big Blue here as they’ve already come away with a rangy linebacker to pair with Connelly in the middle. Upside is the key word to consider when considering Uche, which is really all you’re looking for in round five.
Uche finally began to hit his stride as a junior in 2018, making 8 TFL and 7 sacks in a pass-rush specialist role. It’s worth noting he only racked up 15 tackles, so not much can be expected out of him in the run game. He followed that effort up with an even better one in 2019, notching 11.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks to lead a nasty Michigan defense.
At 6’2 250 LBs, Uche will be a load for tackles to handle in the NFL. If Patrick Graham and the new coaching staff can coax his true potential out of him this pick has the potential to pay big-time dividends.
RD 6 (183): Jonathan Garvin EDGE Miami
An extremely similar player to Uche, Gettleman takes a shot on two upside pass rushers back-to-back here. Garvin projects as a pure edge at the NFL level and many were surprised when he decided to forgo his final season at Miami after not accomplishing a whole lot.
Garvin put up back-to-back years of 5+ sacks (5.5 in 2019, 5 in 2018) and did have 17 TFL in 2018 as well. He figures to be more well-rounded than Uche, although much still shouldn’t be expected out of him than generating pressure.
With three edges now selected, one of these last two guys will likely end up on the practice squad with Big Blue holding eleven total picks (three 7th rounders). Even still, Garvin has solid value here and is worth the gamble so late in the draft.
RD 7 (238): Michael Warren II RB Cincinnati
The NY Giants come away filling a legit hole in round seven here, potentially finding a long-term complimentary backup to Saquon Barkley. With Wayne Gallman figuring to be a goner either this year or next, Warren slides in perfectly next to Barkley as a short-yardage ace and rock-solid ball carrier.
After putting up back-to-back seasons with 1200+ yards and 36 total touchdowns (33 rushing), Warren would have a solid shot to make the roster. The most impressive number on Warren may be that he never fumbled on 500+ carries, while he also is a solid pass protector. Not much would be expected out of him in the receiving game, though.
RD 7 (247): Chris Williamson CB Minnesota
A true project as you would expect this late – Chris Williamson came on strong during his last two seasons at Minnesota. At 6’0 205 LBs, Williamson should be able to play in the slot or on the outside in the NFL. He only picked off two passes in his career, so there aren’t many ball skills to speak of, but he had a real solid year in 2019 to propel Minnesota into the national picture.
RD 7 (255): Tanner Muse S Clemson
The biggest question mark surrounding Muse is surely his athleticism, although I’ll typically take a shot on a guy at the safety position that performed at such a high level at a big school. Muse was playing in the heart of the Clemson defense for three seasons and picked off six passes in the process. At 6’2 230 LBs, he can lay the wood, and he could possibly help fill the Landon Collins void down the road.
Conclusion
Obviously I’m a bit biased, but in my mind, this mock draft represents a home run scenario for the NY Giants. The trade down with the Chargers starts a ripple effect that leaves the Giants finding a potential ten-year starter at left tackle, an explosive outside wideout, a legit pass rusher, a possible starting center for many years, a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, interior offensive line depth, multiple high-upside edge guys and a monster backup runningback late. What else could you ask for?
Most of these picks fall right within the realm where these players are projected to go at the moment, so Dave Gettleman should be able to get a few of them if he shares my mindset. It’s going to be hard to come away filling this many holes, but it’s possible.