It has been pretty much assumed that the NY Giants will either trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft to take a star quarterback, or go after a stud wideout at No. 6 overall. Could general manager Joe Schoen have something else in mind for the first round?
In a new 2024 NFL Mock Draft, the team over at Pro Football Focus thinks that will be the case, as they have the G-Men going with standout Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt early on. Should this happen, it would of course mean Evan Neal's days as the starting right tackle would be over.
In @PFF post Super Bowl 2024 NFL Mock Draft:
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) February 12, 2024
The Giants, with the sixth overall pick, take Notre Dame OT Joe Alt.
The Broncos trade with the Commanders and move up to take Drake Maye at No. 2 overall. The Bears stay put at No. 1 for Caleb Williams.
J.J. McCarthy goes to the… pic.twitter.com/pR1faPmKzH
The NY Giants selecting OT Joe Alt No. 6 overall wouldn't be a shocker
"As much as I don’t believe Joe Schoen is “giving up” on Evan Neal, it feels the question mark Neal now presents at tackle is too big to pass on Alt — if the Notre Dame product is available. "Trevor Sikkema
Per PFF's Trevor Sikkema, he has Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels being the first three players taken. Yeah, not a stunner at all. After that, he has Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze being taken off the board. Odunze has been mocked to the G-Men quite a bit, but he won't be available in this case.
While the Giants and Schoen could still grab LSU wideout Malik Nabers, Sikkema has the Giants passing on him and going with Alt instead. Interestingly enough, in this mock, Nabers falls to the No. 9 overall pick - going to Chicago.
There's no question that the Giants are in need of elite talent at receiver for Daniel Jones, assuming he's going to remain the QB of the future. However, we've seen in recent years how the awful play of the offensive line has hindered Jones' ability to play well. Because of that, Alt very well could be in play at No. 6 overall. It wouldn't be a 'sexy' pick, but it sure would be a smart one.