We are slowly running out of time for our mock drafts involving the NY Giants. Why? The 2024 NFL Draft is about two weeks away. We have debated for months on what the Giants and especially what Joe Schoen should do, as they have the No. 6 overall pick heading into the first night of the draft. Will they stay? Will they move up? Will they move down? We’ve covered just about every scenario possible.
What if Schoen decides to stay put and selects the best player available? While it’s likely not the most popular scenario, it’s also the easiest one. The Giants don’t have to worry about passing on any player, especially if they trade down like they did in 2021 when they passed on Micah Parsons after trading down with the Chicago Bears. Instead, in this mock draft, we will not make any trades and bring in a stud wideout out of Washington.
NY Giants first-round pick: Washington WR Rome Odunze
With the possibility of three quarterbacks - Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels - all going first and then Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. all going next, it leaves the Giants with options. Do they dare go with J.J. McCarthy as the next guy to replace Daniel Jones? We decided to pass.
Instead, we opt for the next best thing for the Giants, which is the best wide receiver on the board in Rome Odunze from Washington, who we’ve taken before in previous mock drafts. The choice was Odunze or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who we have also selected before, but with Darren Waller still not decided on his future, the option for the Giants to take a wide receiver over a tight end was simply greater.
Rome Odunze is #good. pic.twitter.com/8qR1WV4X7q
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) April 6, 2024
The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard plus receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. back in 2018. Ironically enough, that was Eli Manning’s last season as a full-time starter and when Daniel Jones took over. Odunze has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Washington and on paper, he would be the No. 1 wideout for this team.
Granted, we also thought Jalin Hyatt would be that for the Giants after being drafted in the third round and having a 1,200-plus yard season at Tennessee. Hyatt finished the 2023 season with 373 yards and no touchdowns. However, three quarterbacks started for the Giants, so it wasn’t all Hyatt’s fault.
But having a 1-2 punch like Odunze and Hyatt would change things for the Giants offense.