With the 2023 NFL Draft a little over a month away, the NY Giants are doing serious research on guys they’d like to don a Big Blue jersey. As of this writing, New York has 10 picks to use in this year’s draft to help fill out their roster and make improvements at positions of need.
Following the first major wave of free agency, the Giants and Joe Schoen have done a tremendous job at filling out different positions, making it much easier to attempt to narrow down who they might select.
This is still a difficult task, don’t get us wrong, as, despite the moves Schoen has made, there are still plenty of units to focus on. With that being said, let’s take a look at what the 2023 NFL Draft could look like for the Giants:
NY Giants Round 1 pick: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
While it originally seemed like a lock for the Giants to take a wide receiver in the first round of this year’s draft class, the way free agency has gone makes it seem as if all signs are pointing towards their first-round selection being used on a corner.
There are so many incredibly talented corners that are likely to go in the first round. However, due to both fit, and where the Giants are making their selection in the first round (25th overall), it seems like Emmanuel Forbes out of Mississippi State is going to be their best bet.
Don’t take this as “settling” for Forbes, as he has one of the highest upsides out of everyone in this draft due to his freakish athleticism, and abilities as a scheme-versatile corner. While his frame is a little concerning, everything else about his game makes up for it.
Last season, Forbes racked up 48 combined tackles, being one of the better corners in this year’s draft at stopping the run. In addition to this, Forbes allowed just 31 receptions on 58 targets for 284 yards and three touchdowns while also snagging six interceptions and breaking up seven passes.
NY Giants Round 2 selection: C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
With the Giants letting Nick Gates walk and Jon Feliciano signing with the 49ers, it makes sense for them to consider taking a center in the second round to fill in a gap at a rather important position.
In the second round, the Giants will likely have their pick at a couple of centers, however, the combination of size, and athleticism that Joe Tippmann has isn’t exactly common at the center position.
Coming in at a massive 6-6, 313 pounds, Tippmann allowed just five total pressures and one sack in 359 pass-blocking snaps. While Tippmann has some things to work on in the run game, he was more than good enough last season to be worthy of a second-round selection.
The fluidity Tippmann plays with is almost unheard of for his size and when you add in his superior strength and aforementioned athleticism, you have the recipe for a great center. While his hand placement and overall balance in the run game could use some work, these will develop as he gains more experience in the NFL.
NY Giants Round 3 selection: WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Despite making several moves to improve the Giants’ pass-catching core this offseason, the odds of New York taking a receiver in the first three rounds of the draft is still incredibly high. With that in mind, we believe Tyler Scott is their guy if they opt to go for a receiver in the third round.
Scott is a 5-11, 177-pound receiver with the ability to play anywhere on the field due in most part to his incredible athleticism and dynamic ability. Through 11 games at Cincinnati last season, Scott caught 55 passes for 904 yards and four touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 2.49 yards per route ran.
The best part about Scott’s game is the aforementioned dynamic ability. Scott is a running back turned wide receiver and it shows on tape as his shiftiness and agility make it incredibly difficult to bring him down. Alongside this, Scott also has tons of potential as a punt/kick returner thanks to his 4.44 speed.
While Scott has some things to work on both against press-man coverage and at times with his hands, the flashes of greatness he will likely show during his rookie year, alongside his versatility, makes him more than worth being selected in the third round. A player like this would fit perfectly in a Mike Kafka offense.
NY Giants Round 4 selection: LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati
It’s incredibly hard to track where Ivan Pace Jr. could potentially go in this year’s draft due to his size (5-10, 231 pounds), however, a fourth-round selection seems rather fitting. Regardless, Pace is a player the Giants may not want to miss out on if he is still available at pick 128. Obviously his size is a big detractor, but every other part of Pace’s game shows the potential to be an elite linebacker.
Last season at Cincinnati, Pace racked up 126 combined tackles, 12 sacks, 55 pressures, and two forced fumbles. Alongside this, Pace has shown some solid instincts in coverage, he may not be the best in that area, but he is nowhere near a liability and still has room to grow.
Pace plays with heart like no other and has some of the most fun tape we have ever watched from a linebacker. Hopefully, Pace can prove his doubters wrong and show that his size won’t negatively impact his career, as he really could be a tremendous player in this league if things go right for him.
NY Giants Round 5 selection: OL Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
If the Giants want to add some serious depth on the offensive line, they should look no further than Jaxson Kirkland out of Washington, a 6-7, 321-pound monster with plenty of experience at multiple positions.
Kirkland isn’t necessarily a perfect prospect, as his massive size does come with some negatives. However, his versatility and power could make him a useful player for the Giants if one of their starters go down.
Last season at Washington, Kirkland allowed just nine total pressures, not allowing a single sack in 491 pass-blocking snaps. Alongside this, Kirkland has played 500+ snaps at left guard, right guard, and left tackle over the course of his college career.
Kirkland more likely than not pans out to be a guard due to his minimal length (33 1/2 arm measurement), however, if the Giants need him to be plugged in at tackle, he can do so.
NY Giants Round 5 selection: WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, West Virginia
When you look at Bryce Ford-Wheaton’s stat sheet, you may not be entirely blown away, as he caught just 62 passes for 675 yards and seven touchdowns. However, where he made his name known was this year’s NFL Combine. The traits and athleticism he put on display just about saved his draft stock to the point where putting him as a fifth-round selection might be a stretch.
At the combine, Wheaton ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, displayed a 41-inch vertical, a 4.15 20-yard shuttle, and a 10’9 broad jump. What makes this even crazier is that Wheaton is listed at 6-4, 221 pounds.
Wheaton certainly has some things to work on from a technical standpoint, but his physical prowess could make him a deadly threat in the NFL. His ability to grab 50/50 balls is exactly what this Giants offense needs.
NY Giants Round 6 selection: QB Malik Cunningham, Louisville
With former QB3 Davis Webb retiring and joining the Broncos as their QB coach, the Giants are back in the market for a new reserve quarterback and they could very well look to add someone through the draft to help save money.
Malik Cunningham is a 6-0, 192-pound quarterback who would fit in exceptionally well with the Giants’ offense thanks to how elite of an RPO threat he is. Through 10 games last season, Cunningham completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,567 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions while running the ball for 652 yards and a ridiculous 12 touchdowns.
While he obviously has things to work on, as all late-round quarterbacks do, his role as a reserve guy would allow him time to develop behind both Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor to the point where he could eventually become the backup which would save the Giants a ton of money.
When Cunningham is in stride, he looks like a great QB prospect, displaying some pretty darn solid accuracy. In the right system, one like the Giants’, Cunningham could be a very good backup, making him well worth a potential sixth-round selection.
NY Giants Round 7 selection: RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota
The odds of the Giants looking for potential depth at running back for this season are more likely than you’d originally think. Gary Brightwell is entering the final season of his contract and could potentially be released to free up a small amount of cap space and with Matt Breida signing just a one-year deal, New York may want to find someone for the future on a fresh contract.
With this in mind, Mohamed Ibrahim might be a great late-draft selection for the Giants, as he is a prospect with more potential than most seventh-round picks. Last season at Minnesota, Ibrahim ran the ball 320 times for 1,675 yards and 20 touchdowns.
While his limited athleticism and size is the main reason for his fall down the draft board, he still projects to be a good move-the-sticks back with his ability to push the ball forward and find the hole every time.
NY Giants Round 7 selection: DB Brandon Hill, Pitt
While Brandon Hill may not be the most well-rounded prospect available in this year’s draft, he could provide some early value as a special teamer thanks to his impressive athleticism. Alongside this, Hill is a rather versatile player, lining up in the slot, box, and safety throughout his college career.
In 12 games last season, Hill racked up 63 combined tackles, 15 stops, and one interception while allowing 30 receptions on 42 targets for 346 yards and one touchdown.
Hill has a lot to work on both in terms of zone coverage and instincts against the run, but his aggressiveness and physicality will make him a threat on special teams early on while also giving him some potential as a Julian Love-type of player.
NY Giants Round 7 selection: DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
To end the 2023 NFL Draft for the Giants we have Dante Stills, an incredibly interesting defensive line prospect. Stills won’t jump out on you both on the stat sheet or on film, but he’s a very tantalizing athletic prospect with some upside thanks in part to his versatility on the defensive line. Through 12 games last season, Stills racked up 23 combined tackles, four sacks, and 30 combined pressures, forcing two fumbles in the process.
At West Virginia, Stills played in a 4-3 defensive front that allowed him to evenly split his snaps between the inside and out of the defensive line, earning a PFF run defense grade of 90.3 in his last season. Considering the emphasis on run defense that Schoen has put on this offseason, it seems like Stills and the Giants could be a match made in heaven if they opt to draft him.
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