With the first round of the NFL Draft wrapped up, it's time for the NY Giants to get ready for Day 2. The Giants were able to address wide receiver in a big way on Thursday night, with the team landing LSU star Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick.
New York still has plenty of holes on both sides of the ball and we're hopeful that Joe Schoen addresses them in the second or third round - where he can still draft a potential star. So, who should NY fans keep an eye on come Friday night? We've got five player in mind for you:
5. S Javon Bullard
Arguably the biggest position of need going into Day 2 is safety, as the departure of Xavier McKinney left the Giants without one of their main defensive leaders. Luckily for New York, Javon Bullard is still on the board and could easily fill that hole if drafted by Big Blue.
Last season at Georgia, Bullard racked up 58 combined tackles while allowing 14 receptions on 26 attempts for 119 yards. In addition to this, Bullard also snagged two interceptions, broke up five passes, and earned a PFF coverage grade of 88.4.
He won't blow you away with his athleticism, but Bullard is an incredibly versatile secondary player with exceptional traits in coverage. In addition to this, Bullard is also a great open-field tackler, and overall playmaker in the run game. If he's still on the board when the Giants are on the clock in the second round, he could be a solid addition for the defense.
4. DL Ruke Orhorhoro
The Giants added a massive boost in the trenches by trading for star edge-rusher Brian Burns at the start of free agency. Despite this move, the interior of New York's defensive line is still looking rather weak aside from Dexter Lawrence.
With that in mind, if Ruke Orhorhoro falls to the third round, Schoen may want to invest in the DL by selecting the Clemson product. Orhorhoro is a 6-4, 294-pound athletic monster with ridiculous amounts of upside. If he can work a little more on using technique instead of raw power, there's no telling how great he could be in the NFL.
Orhorhoro had the highest athleticism score amongst defensive tackles according to NFL.com and this is very apparent on film. His overreliance on this can become a problem, but with a position coach like Andre Patterson, this issue can be mitigated.
Last season at Clemson, Orhorhoro racked up 19 tackles, five sacks, 26 pressures, and eight tackles for loss. These numbers may not be the most eye-popping, but the traits he's shown on film has Orhorhoro looking like a future star in the NFL. At the very least, his absurd athletic traits will make him a solid rotational defensive lineman, something the Giants desperately need.
3. RB Trey Benson
With the loss of Saquon Barkley and the subsequent signing of Devin Singletary, the Giants are currently left without a genuine RB2 to play behind their new back. While one of Eric Gray or Gary Brightwell could fill this role, it's likely not worth risking so much on two unproven players. This makes it easy to see a world where New York looks to fill this gap through the draft.
Whether it be in the second or third round, it may be in Schoen's best interest to select a back. One of the best who could be available in this range is Florida State's Trey Benson, an explosive athlete with a powerful frame.
Through 13 games last season, Benson ran the ball 156 times for 905 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, an impressive feat. As of right now, Benson looks to be a power back with the potential to rip off a huge run every now and then. However, if he can become more decisive in the backfield, Benson could morph into a starting-caliber running back in no time.
Benson has the potential to be a star in this league if he can fix the few problems he has. Even if he doesn't have all the athletic traits and abilities to be one of the best RB2s in the NFL, the Giants could benefit a ton from having this guy on the roster.
2. S Jaden Hicks
Another safety the Giants could target on Day 2 is Washington State's Jaden Hicks, a versatile threat who can play at all three levels of the field. Given that this is exactly what McKinney brought to the field, Hicks could make for a quick and easy replacement in the second round.
Throughout last season, Hicks saw 103 snaps in the slot, 200 at safety, and 456 lined up in the box. He is an exceptional coverage safety in zone, who has shown flashes of being a capable man-coverage defender as well. In addition to this, Hicks is even a great run-stopper, being a powerful, and consistent hitter.
Hicks racked up 81 tackles, three sacks, and six tackles for loss through 12 games last season, earning a PFF grade of 77.7. As for coverage, Hicks allowed 20 receptions on 31 targets for 170 yards and two touchdowns, snagging two interceptions and breaking up four passes in the process.
There may not be a better option for the Giants at safety on Day 2. Hicks' versatility is not common and he could be a great addition alongside Jason Pinnock. He'll come in with a much higher floor than Dane Belton and will likely contribute more on Week 1 as well. It really seems like a match made in heaven for Hicks and New York. Hopefully, Schoen capitalizes on his chance to draft the next star safety for the Giants.
1. QB Spencer Rattler
With all of the top QBs surprisingly going in the first round, one of the more interesting prospects remaining is Spencer Rattler. Once a highly-touted QB prodigy, Rattler has since fallen a bit from grace and is now projected to go in the third or fourth round. Despite this, Rattler could still become a starter in the league down the road.
In 13 games in 2023, Rattler completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 3,032 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. These numbers aren't tremendous by any means, but Rattler's film shows a surprisingly mature game that could translate well in the NFL.
Given the current situation with Daniel Jones, it could work out for Rattler to sit on the bench for a year or two, and develop under Brian Daboll before taking the reins. Given Daboll's history of developing QBs, this could work out incredibly well for both Rattler and the Giants franchise moving forward. If he's available in the third round, it might be smart to grab him.