Giants post-Combine Mock Draft: NY trades up with Patriots for new franchise QB

One of the worst kept secrets at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine was the desire of the NY Giants to select a quarterback and their willingness to move up in the 2024 NFL Draft.

For months, we have gone back and forth as far as what position the Giants should target if they stay with the No. 6 overall pick. But that’s just it. Are the Giants going to stay there? Many think the Giants will move up in the draft order. Some think it could be for the No. 3 overall pick, which is currently held by the New England Patriots.

The reported price for the Giants to potentially move up and trade for the Patriots pick has been mentioned:

Considering what it cost for the New York Jets to make the trade to get to No. 3 back in the 2018 NFL Draft, swapping first-round picks and sending three second-round picks seems like a deal that Joe Schoen could handle and make, especially if his guy is sitting there.

TRADE ALERT: NY Giants send 2024 first round, two 2024 second round and 2025 second-round pick to the New England Patriots for No. 3 overall pick, select LSU QB Jayden Daniels

If this is the trade that can land NE's spot, then we will do the same here. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are off the board, so Jayden Daniels goes to East Rutherford and the Giants have their franchise quarterback of the future.

Daniels said the Giants coaches were very energetic when they met with him in Indianapolis.

The majority of the Giants fan base would be energized and ecstatic to land the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and have him be the next franchise quarterback to lead the Giants into the future. He'd also replace Daniel Jones for the long haul.

There's been plenty of debate on whether or not Danny Dimes should get another year as the starter, with fans calling for Schoen to get him a compotent offensive line. That's one road to go down, but in this case, the NY front office will go all-in to find a more dynamic player.

NY Giants third-round pick: South Carolina WR Xavier Legette

With the Giants targeting the offensive line and pass-rushers in free agency, we’ll focus the team's third-round pick on another need at wide receiver.

Xavier Legette drops down to the third round, which was the same round the Giants ended up landing Jalin Hyatt a year ago when they traded up to get him. With Hyatt continuing to develop, the Giants can get another possible 1,000-yard receiver in Legette, who had 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 for South Carolina.

Legette has some good speed for someone who is 220 pounds and his big, physical nature is exactly what the Giants could use in their wide receivers room to go with Hyatt, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson.

For some of the talk of the Giants trying to get Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills in a potential trade this offseason, drafting Legette could end any of that talk, as the G-Men can draft a younger version who can be put on a rookie contract.

NY Giants fourth-round pick: Miami DL Leonard Taylor

We’ve talked about how the interior of the Giants defensive line got worse after they traded Leonard Williams at the trade deadline and how his presence, or lack thereof, was truly felt for the rest of the season. The Giants will address that need with the selection of Leonard Taylor.

Taylor had six sacks in three seasons for the Hurricanes. He did have 10.5 tackles for a loss in 2022 and 22.5 tackles for a loss combined at Miami. At 6-3 and 305 pounds, Taylor is extremely strong, very physical and has good quickness for someone of his size.

Playing Taylor next to Dexter Lawrence with the amount of attention he gets as it is in the middle will certainly help a young rookie like Taylor, as he could be able to draw some one-on-one’s against lineman and have chances to get to the quarterback. Landing him in the third round would be big for Schoen.

NY Giants fifth-round pick: Michigan OG Zak Zinter

If not for the horrific leg injury suffered during the 2023 season, Zak Zinter probably goes a lot earlier in the draft, but because of it, he drops down to the fifth round and right into the laps of the Giants and Schoen.

Even with the Giants focusing on trying to add a guard in free agency, the Giants would be wise and fortunate to land Zinter in the fifth round and get him as part of the Giants attempt to revamp their offensive line that surrendered 85 sacks in 2023. The group was downright awful last season.

It has been reported that the Giants will release veteran offensive lineman Mark Glowinski after two seasons. Glowinski was one of the several players who played at both guard positions. Glowinski was the starter heading into 2023, but was benched early on and wasn’t much of a factor as the campaign progressed.

Zinter could be a nice replacement for one of the two guard spots that are up for grabs. Even if the Giants do get a stud guard in free agency, Zinter should be someone the Giants target, especially if he is still sitting there in the fifth round.

NY Giants sixth-round pick: Michigan EDGE Jaylen Harrell

The Giants already added one player from the National Championship team that won back in January. New York will go on to add a second one with their sixth round and final pick in edge-rusher Jaylen Harrell.

Just like with the guard position, the Giants are expected to target edge-rushers in free agency. However, even if the Giants do land one in free agency, they should still look for one in the draft to go along with Kayvon Thibodeaux, who had 11.5 sacks in 2023.

Harrell had 6.5 sacks for the Wolverines in 2023 and 10 total for his college career. Harrell also had nine tackles for a loss in 2023. He’s seen as a high-effort pass-rusher whose motor doesn’t stop and who can also be effective in coverage as well.

With the disappointment in Azeez Ojulari’s health and his inability to be consistent enough to stay on the field, it’s why the Giants are looking at pass-rushers in free agency and in the draft. Having an additional edge-rusher like Harrell can certainly help a Giants defense that will look to get after the quarterback more in 2024.