2023 NFL Mock Draft: NY Giants make surprising DB pick in Round 1

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NY Giants Round 7 Pick: West Virginia DT Dante Stills

Dante Stills is truly such an interesting prospect because when watching him on tape and seeing what he could bring to a team like the Giants, it's hard to understand why he's projected to go so late. Not only is Stills consistently good, but he is also a freak athlete and incredibly versatile on the defensive line.

At the Combine, Stills ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash among defensive tackles, the third-longest broad jump, and the second-fastest 20-yard shuttle. Alongside this, Stills has almost perfectly split his time on the defensive line between the interior and outside. While he could use some work with his technique, his athleticism will give him an advantage over others when he first enters the league.

Sills racked up five sacks and 30 combined pressures alongside 23 combined tackles and two forced fumbles last season at West Virginia. While he showed flashes as a pass-rusher, Stills easily projects to be a consistent run-stopper in the NFL. He could be a seventh-round steal.

NY Giants Round 7 Pick: Georgia Tech LB Charlie Thomas

The Giants almost have to draft a linebacker at some point in this draft. While they now have their guy in Bobby Okereke alongside some players with potential like Darrian Beavers, the team could always use some more depth at the position. With that in mind, we believe Charlie Thomas is a good low-risk, high-reward prospect for the Giants.

Last season at Georgia Tech, Thomas racked up 116 combined tackles and two sacks. Alongside this, he allowed just 31 receptions on 44 targets for 329 yards and two touchdowns while snagging two interceptions of his own.

Thomas has solid instincts against the run and some genuine potential in coverage. However, his lack of ideal size is what's holding him back the most. Thomas isn't short by any means, however, his 216-pound frame and 31 1/2-long arms have killed his draft stock. Is he worth a late-round pick, though? Definitely.

NY Giants Round 7 Pick: Western Kentucky CB Kahlef Hailassie

With the Giants' final pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, we have them selecting Kahlef Hailassie out of Western Kentucky University. While he may not have played against very impressive talent during his time in college, Hailassie showed enough to make him easily worth a seventh-round selection.

Through 12 games last season, Hailassie racked up 61 combined tackles, missing just 12. Alongside this, he also allowed just 39 receptions on 66 targets for 429 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, breaking up 13 passes in the process.

While these numbers may not be mind-blowing, watching Hailassie play shows some interesting skills that make it a little surprising to see him be projected to go so late in the draft. Not only is Hailassie an incredibly fluid athlete, but he has also put his instincts in both man and zone coverage on display several times this season. Schoen shouldn't hesitate in taking him in the seventh round.

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