4 first-round picks Giants fans should already start thinking about

Through the first four weeks of the 2023 NFL season, the NY Giants are 1-3, suffering losses to the Dallas Cowboys, San Fransisco 49ers, and recently the Seattle Seahawks. It's pretty clear Big Blue's most significant weaknesses come from their offense, specifically the lack of depth for the offensive line and at wide receiver.

It's too early to tell if the Giants will be contenders or pretenders in January, but if they want a shot, they need to clean up a few things with a demanding schedule ahead. General manager Joe Schoen will have to utilize free agency or the trade market to improve this roster right now. However, it's never too early to start thinking about the franchise's future.

With that said, let's take a look at four potential first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft that Giants fans can already start thinking about:

4. Florida State WR Keon Coleman

Although the Giants addressed their wide receiver need this past offseason through free agency and the NFL Draft, the results still need to pay off. The G-Men still need more options that quarterback Daniel Jones can rely on in the passing game. With their poor performance through four weeks, Giants fans have focused on the upcoming draft to correct these reoccurring issues.

One name the G-Men could pursue is Florida State wideout Keon Coleman, who has amassed 17 receptions for 256 yards and six touchdowns in four games with the Seminoles. The Michigan State transfer is a wideout whose size and ability to create after the catch presents a lot of upside of becoming a legitimate option for Danny Dimes in the future.

In Pro Football Focus' quarter-season mock draft, the Giants selected Coleman with the No. 10 overall pick as the second wideout taken off the board behind Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. This would be the first time Big Blue has selected a wide receiver in the first-round since 2021 when they took Kadarius Toney out of Florida.

Coleman would be a stellar pick up for the Giants, who would complement Isaiah Hodgins and Darren Waller very well for this offense. We will have to wait and see if the Schoen and the Giants' front office roll the dice on this Florida State wideout.

3. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka

Another wideout who could emerge as a favorite to land in East Rutherford this offseason is Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka. The junior is already off to a hot start in 2023, totaling 19 receptions for 263 yards and three touchdowns through four games. He's complemented Harrison Jr. very well this season and should continue to perform.

Last season, Egbuka was a starter with the Buckeyes for the first time in his collegiate career. He caught 74 passes from CJ Stroud, which totaled 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was crucial to leading Ohio State to an 11-2 record and a run to the Peach Bowl, where the Buckeyes lost 42-41 to the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Washington native ranks among the best wide receivers in this upcoming draft class and would make a great addition to any team he joins with his ability to play both slot and outside. His flexibility makes him an exciting prospect; however, one of Egbuka's best traits is his ability to stay consistent on third downs.

The 6-1 pass catcher could fit in exceptionally well with the Giants in 2024 and in Brian Daboll's system. If the speedster is still on the board when the Giants are on the clock next April, fans will surely be hoping Schoen sends his name in.

2. Penn State OT Olu Fashanu

The Giants need as much help as possible at their offensive tackle positions, with LT Andrew Thomas still recovering from a hamstring injury and RT Evan Neal underperforming in his sophomore season. The O-Line, in general, has not met expectations so far, leading to Jones being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league this season behind the Commanders' Sam Howell.

One of the Giants' biggest disappointments this season has been the 2022 No. 7 overall pick out of Alabama and his sluggish performance. After allowing one sack and committing three penalties, Neal has received a 42.5 overall grade thus far from Pro Football Focus.

The second-year tackle has upset many Giants fans due to his underperformance and even more recently after he directed negative comments at the Big Blue faithful. Many fans can agree that they've seen enough from Neal, and they want him gone following this season. With that being said, who will the G-Men turn to?

If you haven't heard of Olu Fashanu, you've been living under a rock. The senior out of Penn State is arguably the best offensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Fashanu could have been a first-rounder in 2023 had he declared, but now, with even more development at the FBS level, there's no doubt if he's available, Schoen should take him.

The 6-6, 319-pounder is above the 50th percentile for NFL offensive linemen in height and weight. Fashanu has excellent size, balance, and a high football IQ, but excels the most in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, he is currently the highest-graded OL in pass protection this season with a 92.9 grade. We can expect Fashanu to land in the top five in this upcoming draft. However, any team would be lucky to welcome him to their roster next season. 

1. Alabama OL JC Latham

A more realistic option for the Giants at offensive tackle that may fall to when they pick is JC Latham out of Alabama, who is projected as the third-best lineman in the 2024 class behind Fashanu and Notre Dame's Joe Alt. Latham has been the starting right tackle for Crimson Tide for the last two seasons and has so far put together his best season this year.

With the Giants currently occupying the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, many experts believe Latham would be the perfect fit for New York. Big Blue could always look at this as an opportunity to replace a former product of Nick Saban in Neal.

Against Ole Miss, Latham did not allow a quarterback pressure to Jalen Milroe in 31 pass-block snaps. The 6-6, 360-pounder has only allowed one sack in four games and has only missed three assignments in 259 snaps, but has cleared the way for both of Alabama's running backs to have 100-yard performances this season.

Depending on their pick, I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants pursue Fashanu or Latham in this upcoming draft. These are great long-term options for Schoen to make for the franchise's future. The offensive line has been a nightmare in '23, but major help could be on the way for the '24 campaign.