The 2023 NFL Draft is about a week away and fans couldn't be more excited. Not only are the NY Giants finally outside of the top of the draft order, but they still have a chance to draft a star to add to an already stacked team.
Currently, the Giants have 10 picks throughout the draft, meaning they have so much room to improve upon what was an already successful 2022 season. New York can really do no wrong with what position they opt to select due to how great of an offseason they have had.
This makes for what could be an interesting draft. While it seems like the consensus is that the Giants will select a corner or receiver in the first round, things could go very differently depending on how the prior picks are made. With that said, we think an SEC safety will be heading to Big Blue:
NY Giants Round 1 Pick: Alabama S Brian Branch
With the Giants letting Julian Love walk in free agency, alongside the expiring contract of Xavier McKinney, Joe Schoen could look to select either a replacement, or partner for McKinney in the first round.
Safety may not be the biggest need for the Giants, but the odds of any of the top receivers or corners being available at No. 25 are very slim. This will cause the Giants to likely draft the best player available at this pick, which very well could be Brian Branch.
Branch is not only the best safety in this class, but has one of the highest floors. This is something the Giants and Schoen may want to capitalize on. His combination of elite tackling skills and coverage ability makes for a near-perfect safety prospect that any team would be lucky to have.
This pick may not be surprising as you'd think, though. Schoen has experience with putting capital into two elite safeties like the Bills did with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer during Schoen's time with the team. So pairing Branch and McKinney, two former 'Bama safeties, could work out incredibly well.
Last season at Alabama, Branch racked up 89 combined tackles, earning a PFF run defense grade of 90.7, alongside a tackling grade of 91.8, which ranks first among all safeties in the draft. In addition to this, Branch allowed just 36 receptions on 57 targets for 240 yards and two touchdowns while snagging two interceptions and breaking up six passes. This kind of versatility is something the Giants simply can't miss out on.
NY Giants Round 2 Pick: Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson
Tyrique Stevenson may not get the hype as some of his competition at corner, however, this does not mean he isn't incredibly talented. He may not have the athletic upside of someone like Cam Smith, but the consistency he brings in man coverage is special and would fit perfectly with the NY Giants' defense.
Last season, Stevenson racked up 28 combined tackles while also allowing just 17 receptions on 40 targets for 353 yards and three touchdowns. He also grabbed three interceptions and broke up five passes. Alongside this, Stevenson earned a PFF pass coverage grade of 79.5.
Stevenson plays with a certain physicality and patience that not everyone else does. While he isn't a perfect prospect, the way he'd be able to start on the outside opposite to Adoree' Jackson on Day 1 makes him more than worth selecting.
Gaining comparisons to James Bradberry, missing out on this sort of player in the second round is something that could haunt the Giants for years. Adding this level of consistency to a defense that desperately needs it would do wonders for New York.
NY Giants Round 3 Pick: Cincinnati WR Tyler Scott
The NY Giants are going to have to find a new WR at some point in this year's draft, and if they want to find someone who could be a game-changer at a great value then Tyler Scott is their guy. Scott is a former running back turned receiver who has some incredible dynamism at the position that makes him a special talent.
In 11 games at Cincinnati last season, Scott caught 55 receptions for 904 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 16.4 yards per catch. Alongside his talent as a pure receiver, Scott's aforementioned dynamism could allow him to be a great punt returner, which is another thing the Giants need.
Scott may not be the big-bodied WR1 the team needs, but the skill set he brings to the field will make a huge difference for the Giants' offense. New York may have some solid receivers on their roster, but aside from Wan'Dale Robinson, they don't really have a big-time threat in the open field.
If drafted by the Giants, Scott would be this player. We can only imagine what Scott could be capable of in a creative Mike Kafka-run defense with Daniel Jones as his quarterback. If we could sum it up in one word, it would have to be "fun."
NY Giants Round 4 Pick: Michigan C Olusegen Oluwatimi
Following the departure of Nick Gates and Jon Feliciano, the NY Giants are in need of a new center, and when looking at the best value per pick, there may be no better selection to make than Olusegun Oluwatimi in the fourth round.
Through 410 pass-blocking snaps last season, Oluwatimi allowed just four QB hurries and five QB hits, displaying some very consistent hand placement and footwork in pass protection. Alongside this, he is an even better run blocker, displaying some great speed to get to the second level while also being one of the best double-team blockers in the draft.
Oluwatimi does have some things to work in both pass protection and run blocking, however, taking a player who's capable of starting Day 1 in the fourth round is incredible value. This is a very stacked center class compared to previous years, so the Giants can likely afford to wait until Round 3 to address the position while still getting a good player.
The interior offensive line is something Schoen and the Giants must figure out soon if they want to give the team's offense their best chance to succeed. Bringing a player in like Oluwatimi would not only give them their potential center of the future but at a good price considering how little fourth-round picks can get paid.
NY Giants Round 5 Pick: Syracuse RB Sean Tucker
With Saquon Barkley declining to sign his franchise tag, New York very well could be looking for a potential Barkley replacement in this year's draft. If this is the case, a good candidate to play behind Barkley this season and then start in 2024 is Sean Tucker out of Syracuse.
In 12 games last season, Tucker ran the ball 204 times for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging around 5.2 yards per carry. While he may not be much of a weapon in the passing game, his ability to be a consistent threat on the ground could make him a valuable player on the Giants' offense.
It's been a while since the Giants had a power back in their backfield. Tucker is no Brandon Jacobs, but his desire to always push the ball forward is incredibly similar and if the Giants continue to build up their offensive line, he very well could have a similar prime to Jacobs.
NY Giants Round 5 Pick: USC OG Andrew Vorhees
Originally, Andrew Vorhees was in the first-round conversation. However, after suffering a torn ACL at the Combine, there is a good chance Vorhees falls a bit in the draft. Regardless, the Giants should still draft Vorhees, as his sort of talent is more than worth waiting a season for.
Through 436 pass-blocking snaps, Vorhees allowed 12 QB hurries, one QB hit, and two sacks. While he may not be a freak athlete, Vorhees more than makes up for it with his ridiculous strength and desire to be great.
While there may be concerns surrounding his age, as he is currently 24 and will be missing a season of his career, this does not bother us one bit. The talent and leadership Vorhees will bring to New York is what dreams are made of. Schoen cannot make the mistake of letting him slip past his grasp if he falls into the fifth round.
NY Giants Round 6 Pick: Michigan WR Ronnie Bell
Similar to Vorhees, Ronnie Bell is another player whose passion for the game is incredibly evident when you watch him play. Not only does Bell fight for every pass thrown his way, but he has also made some incredible plays as a run blocker. This would make a nice addition to a rather small Giants receiving core that does not have any standout blockers.
In 14 games last season, Bell caught 62 passes for 892 yards and four touchdowns while only racking up five drops. While his 16.7 percent contested catch rate may be worrisome, Bell is more of a developmental prospect with potential to fix his major issues.
Bell split his snaps rather evenly between the slot and the outside. Adding this versatility to the Giants' offense would be very interesting to see. While Bell would likely be more of a slot receiver in the NFL due to his flaws, we have hope that Bell can one day become an outside guy. Not only does he have the size, but Bell is also an incredibly fluid athlete who has made some very nice deep catches in his career.
While he may not be ready to be a game-changer from the start like some other receiver prospects from this year's class, the upside is undoubtedly there and something the Giants may want to cash in on in the sixth round.
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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