Well, this is a name that we haven't seen mentioned for the NY Giants just yet. For a while, people have assumed that general manager Joe Schoen will go with a star wide receiver with the No. 25 overall pick.
However, insider Bruce Feldman doesn't think that will be the case. In his new NFL Mock Draft for The Athletic, Feldman thinks that the Giants will trade up to No. 12 overall, taking that selection from the Houston Texans. Maybe Jaxon Smith-Njigba will hear his name called then? Nope, Feldman has the Giants going with Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez instead.
Which QB goes first? Which one should? Which prospects are the most underrated? My NFL Mock Draft with the picks for every team, and with deep analysis of every player from dozens of coaches who game-planned against them and faced all these guys. https://t.co/vUCpXTeggD
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) March 31, 2023
Bruce Feldman thinks the Giants will trade up for Christian Gonzalez
""In a deal to move up 13 spots, the Giants know there’s a run on top corners coming very soon, and they swap first-rounders with Houston (plus some later picks) to grab Gonzalez before Bill Belichick or Mike Tomlin. The 6 feet 1, 197-pounder, who began his career at Colorado, has ideal size and length. Gonzalez is a Freak athlete who ran a 4.38 at the combine, broad jumped 11-1 and vertical jumped 41 1/2 inches. He might not be quite as instinctive as Witherspoon but he’s much bigger, and in a division with A.J. Brown on the top team, that matters.""Bruce Feldman
Gonzalez is a playmaker and we're not doubting his abilities at all. However, do we really think Schoen would trade up and give up additional picks for a cornerback? Hey, if Schoen and Daboll are that high on Gonzalez, then it could end up happening.
We're not a huge fan of this idea, though, as we'd rather see the Giants go after Smith-Njigba in the Top 15, or pick Boston College WR Zay Flowers at No. 25 overall. Adoree' Jackson is locked in as CB1, but a stud CB2 is still needed for the squad. Gonzalez could become an elite CB for the Giants down the road if NY lands him... but still.
Schoen could surprise us all and make this trade for the Oregon DB. We're really hoping Feldman is wrong here, though. We still think a WR1 for the future should be NY's priority.
READ MORE: Giants will need to trade up for WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba