NY Giants 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Another Georgia star arrives in New York

After three straight wins and no losses in a four-week stretch between mid-November and mid-December, the New York Football Giants re-entered the playoff race. Big Blue was just one game out of the final NFC playoff spot, and Tommy DeVito Mania was taking over New York City and entering Sunday's game in New Orleans.

The Giants were humbled by the veteran Saints 24-6, and saw both their playoff hopes and DeVito mania come crashing down. The end-of-season push became fun, but it's back to mock draft season. The best-case scenario for New York now is to lose all three games to improve their draft spot.

According to Tankathon, New York currently holds the No. 6 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Here is my latest mock draft.

NY Giants first-round pick: Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Joe Schoen has shown in previous drafts that he will take the best available player, and when the Giants come on the clock in April, that player could be Brock Bowers. Darren Waller is a fantastic talent at tight end and highly productive when on the field, but he cannot be relied upon to stay healthy anymore.

At worst, Bowers and Waller form the league's best tight-end duo. Bowers has hauled in 175 balls through three college seasons for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns. He won two National Championships and lost just two college games. 

There were rumblings around the NFL that Brian Daboll attempted to pursue Rob Gronkowski out of retirement this spring to join the Giants and form a one-two punch with Waller, so a Bowers pick is not impossible.

Bowers has had an illustrious college career. He's a two-time John Mackey Award winner (recognizes the country's best tight end), 2023 consensus All-American, 2022 first-team All-American, 2021 Second-team All-American, 2021 SEC Freshmen of the Year, and was a three-time first-team SEC member (2021, 2022, 2023).

NY Giants second-round pick: Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell

The Giants will look to add help at defensive back this spring, and while they could stand to add veteran help, they could also use high-upside talent to play alongside Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott.

In four seasons at Toledo, Mitchell, a 6-0, 196-pounder, picked off six passes, five of which happened in 2022. Mitchell has received a PFF grade above 90 in each of the last two seasons, which is considered elite.

Yeah, his four-interception, two-touchdown game against Northern Illinois in 2022 is one for the record books. Mitchell forced 17 incompletions in 2023, tied for the most in the country, and was PFF's second-highest-graded cornerback. 

NY Giants second-round pick: LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.

LSU is wide receiver U. Remember back to the 2019 College Football season; Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy thanks to a phenomenal season, and two star wide receivers, J'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

Fast forward to 2023. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy at LSU thanks to a phenomenal season and his two star wide receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. The latter is a little less known than Nabers, similar to how Jefferson was less known than Chase, but make no mistake about it, Thomas is a true baller.

In 2023, the Louisana native caught 60 balls for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns. Thomas' 18 yards per catch average was tied for the 11th highest in the country among wide receivers with at least 70 targets, tied for the fifth highest among power five receivers. He is a big play waiting to happen.

NY Giants third-round pick: Texas A&M DL McKinnley Jackson

The 6-2, 325-pounder would instantly improve the depth of the Giants defensive line, which Joe Schoen is always looking to do. Jackson has SEC experience, which general managers love in big men.

In each of the last two seasons, Jackson has received 70 or above PFF grades, which indicates starting quality play. In 2023, Jackson split his time lining up over the A-gap and B-gap, recording eight hurries, four sacks, and two hits. 

Behind Dexter Lawrence, the Giants have Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Jordon Riley, and DJ Davidson on the roster at defensive line. Safe to say, even if they re-sign A'Shawn Robinson, they will need to add more help.

NY Giants fourth-round pick: Notre Dame RB Audric Estime

In three seasons at Notre Dame, the Nyack, New York native rushed the ball 373 times for 2,321 yards and 29 touchdowns. In 2023, Estime had 1,341 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and was given an elite 94.2 grade by PFF for his efforts, the second-best among college running backs.

Estime has all the talents to be a lead running back for an NFL team, but if the Giants opt to re-sign Saquon Barkley, as they should, Estime and Barkley would form a ridiculous backfield duo. Estime would also give the Giants an elite insurance policy for the oft-injured Barkley.

NY Giants fifth-round pick: Wake Forest S Malik Mustapha

Malik Mustapha is a versatile defensive back who could help the Giants secondary. The 5-11, 207-pounder has 175 tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions in his three-year college career.

In 2023 alone, according to PFF, Mustapha played 327 snaps as a box safety, a hybrid linebacker, 163 as a deep safety, 144 in the slot, 27 on the defensive line, and nine at cornerback. Versatility is necessary for any defender in the Wink Martindale defense, making Mustapha an ideal fit.

NY Giants sixth-round pick: Wisconsin OL Jack Nelson

The Giants have invested so many picks along the offensive line in the early rounds of the NFL Draft, but they would be wise to target one with a high upside in the later rounds. Schoen has found late-round impact players in his first two drafts, so this is certainly no throwaway pick.

The 6-7, 311-pound Jack Nelson has hovered around a starter-quality PFF grade the last three seasons. In 2021, Nelson played the entire season at right guard, but shifted to left tackle in 2022 and played there over the last two seasons. 

Nelson was a First-Team all-Big Ten member in 2023. The Big Ten's first-team offensive line was littered with future NFL talent: Nelson (OT), Penn State's Olu Fashanu (OT), Ohio State's Donovan Jackson (OG), Michigan's Zak Zinter (OG), and Michigan's Drake Nugent (C).