The New York Giants will look to keep the momentum going after a great first night of the draft. There’s a lot for fans to be happy about—and even more to look forward to. The Giants continued to add to their pass rush, which was top-10 in the league in terms of sacks. Adding Abdul Carter to a mix that already includes Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Brian Burns sounds like a lot of fun for next season.
With only pick 65 today (barring any trades), if the G-Men can add a defensive tackle next to Lawrence, we could see a playoff-caliber defense.
Coach Daboll finally got his guy as the Giants traded back into the first round—giving up picks 34 and 99 in the process—to land QB Jaxson Dart. The Giants were high on Dart and hope he can sit for a year behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston before becoming the next franchise QB. Still, there’s more work to be done. There’s a lot of talent still available for the Giants, so let’s take a look at a few names.
1. Marcus Mbow, OL (Purdue)
Marcus Mbow is a 6-4, 303-pound lineman from Purdue. Mbow played tackle while at Purdue but is projected to move inside to guard at the next level. He’s young but has valuable experience at tackle, offering some versatility.
With eight offensive linemen going in the first round last night and the Giants waiting until pick 65, it might be a stretch to see if he lasts—but if he does, the Giants could have a potential Week 1 starting right guard. Mbow could immediately challenge veterans Greg Van Roten, Aaron Stinnie, and Evan Neal (newly moved to guard) for a starting spot.
2. Alfred Collins, DT (Texas)
If Alfred Collins is still on the board at 65, the Giants should sprint to the podium. Collins could be the missing piece next to Dexter Lawrence.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches hasn’t panned out, and while the Giants have found some developing pieces in Jordon Riley, Casey Rodgers, and Elijah Chatman, Collins could come in and start on Day 1. The 6-6, 332-pound tackle from Texas is a run-stuffing monster—exactly what the Giants need.
If Collins can eat up double teams and stuff run lanes, that will free up Lawrence, Thibodeaux, Burns, and Carter to rush one-on-one. And that spells big trouble for a lot of offenses next year.
3. Kaleb Johnson, RB (Iowa)
Coming off an amazing season at Iowa, Kaleb Johnson racked up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns—despite playing on a not-so-great offense.
If the Giants can pair Johnson’s power and hard-nosed running with the quickness and explosiveness of Tyrone Tracy Jr., they could have a dynamic young backfield. Adding Johnson would also make veterans Devin Singletary and Eric Gray expendable.
The Giants would have a strong 1-2 punch running behind an up-and-coming offensive line. Johnson has already spent time visiting the Giants this offseason and would be a great get.
4. Elijah Arroyo, TE (Miami)
The Giants sent a big contingent to the Miami Pro Day, mainly to scout Cam Ward, but they kept a close eye on Elijah Arroyo too.
Arroyo was Ward’s go-to target throughout the season, always seeming to be in the right place at the right time. At 6-5 and 250 pounds, he brings size and explosiveness to the position.
While the Giants have a crowded tight end room, Chris Manhertz is on a one-year deal, Daniel Bellinger has been an afterthought, and Greg Dulcich is more of a practice squad option. Pairing Arroyo with last year’s fourth-round pick Theo Johnson would give the Giants a dangerous combo alongside Nabers, Robinson, and Slayton.
If Arroyo is still there at pick 105, the Giants might not hesitate.
5. Darius Alexander, DT (Toledo)
The Giants have to finish off their defensive line in this draft, and there are still a lot of names available.
The wait to pick 65 will be long, but with players like Josh Farmer, Darius Alexander, and Shemar Turner still out there, the Giants have options. Alexander might be the most athletic of the bunch.
His quick-twitch explosion and sudden first step could give the Giants a true gap-eater inside. He turned heads at the Senior Bowl and ran a 4.8 40-yard dash at the Combine — at 6-4, 305 pounds.
Alexander is already a strong run stuffer and could become even better learning from the best in the business, Dexter Lawrence.