Once the NY Giants got the Daniel Jones contract situation figured out, all the attention was turned to the 2023 NFL Draft. It's safe to say that general manager Joe Schoen and Co. absolutely nailed it. If you look at feedback from most of the talking heads, it'll be hard to find a draft grade below a B and rightfully so.
The Giants brass was able to address every need the team had and if some of these picks pan out the way we hope, the Giants could be set up very well for the upcoming season and beyond. Now, it's time to look at just how good these draft picks are, as we're ranking each pick from worst to best:
7. DT Jordon Riley
In a draft that is as good on paper as the Giants, it's tough to put someone in the last position, but it does have to be done. A defensive tackle out of Oregon, Jordon Riley unfortunately holds that position. Riley bounced around during his college career starting at the University of North Carolina, going to junior college, then Nebraska and finally finding a home at Oregon for his last season.
It wasn't until his final year at Oregon that he got to play consistently, Fortunately, he was able to make the most of his opportunity collecting 21 total tackles (1.5 for loss). Riley turned plenty of heads in the Pac-12.
Nonetheless, the in-game inexperience is there. It'll be interesting to see how he can fit into Wink Martindale's 3-4 system as a tackle. He doesn't necessarily have the experience or speed to fit to play as an end and it's already a crowded room for defensive tackles. His ability is limited in that sense, so Riley wil really have to rely on his skill to make the roster.
6. CB Tre Hawkins III
Tre Hawkins switched to cornerback his junior year at Old Dominion and it turned out to be the best thing for his career. In his final two college years, Hawkins had more than 130 tackles and 12 passes defended.
This production is a big reason why the Giants felt the need to draft him in the sixth round. It's not only his production, but also his measurables that look good, He's a 6-2, nearly 200-pound corner. That size can match up with a huge majority of receivers in the league. So, why is he in the sixth spot?
As crazy as it sounds, the Giants have a pretty crowded cornerbacks room. Big Blue fans around the country know how much the team has been starving for depth in the secondary, so expanding on that depth through the draft makes complete sense.
But, Hawkins could find himself in a tough position to make the team. It's safe to say Adoree' Jackson, Darnay Holmes, Cor'Dale Flott and Deonte Banks (we'll get to him shortly) are the top four. So, like Riley, Hawkins better hope his skill wins out. If it does, he'll fit in very nicely with this group.
5. S Gervarrius Owens
The Giants seventh and final pick in the 2023 NFL Draft finds himself at No. 5 in the power rankings. Like Riley, Gervarrius Owens bounced around in college, but not for lack of opportunity. After finding a home at the University of Houston, Owens proved to be a standout his final two years of college.
As a junior, Owens earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors with 52 tackles, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two interceptions (one returned for a score). He followed up a productive 2021 with earning second team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2022.
Now, Owens finds himself in a position with the Giants where the door is pretty much open. The opportunity to start isn't really there but depending on how he looks in camp, Owens could make a case to be the fourth guy on the depth chart behind Xavier McKinney, Jason Pinnock and Bobby McCain.
Owens has the potential to bring stability and production to a potion that desperately needs it. He was a seventh-round pick, but he's already making a splash at OTAs for the defense.
4. RB Eric Gray
The fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma really has the potential to be at the No. 1 spot. That, of course, depends on the whole Saquon Barkley situation. Either way, Eric Gray is a great pick in terms of backfield insurance. His senior year in Norman is what earned Gray the opportunity in the NFL. He ran for more than 1,300 yards and collected 11 touchdowns, all while averaging more than six yards per carry. With those numbers he was able to earn Second-Team All-Big 12 Conference honors.
If all works out with Barkley, Gray will be a solid piece to help take the pressure off him in the run game and he'll be another security blanket for Jones whenever a check down is needed. He also could make a name for himself as a kick returner.
If the Barkely situation takes a turn for the worse, Gray might find himself competing for the starting job. A Matt Breida/Gray tandem isn't exactly what you hope for, but Gray looks like he could have the makings of a solid pro in the backfield. Let's hope things work out with Saquon, though.
3. WR Jalin Hyatt
A third rounder in the third spot of the power rankings is pretty on the nose, but this is no slight to Jalin Hyatt's ability. Like most of this draft class, Hyatt's final year was his coming out party. He was the focal point of Tennessee's passing attack collecting 67 receptions for more than 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns.
And let's not forget his five-touchdown explosion against Alabama. It's not often you get to call the Fred Biletnikoff Award winner a steal, but Hyatt falling to the Giants in the third round is a huge win for this team as a whole.
If it wasn't for the offseason the G-Men had prior to the draft, Hyatt could very well find himself as the best draft pick right out of the gate. He may very well end up being that, but the Giants were able to bring in other pass-catchers before Hyatt found himself in a Giants uniform.
The Darren Waller acquisition is a big reason Hyatt doesn't find himself higher on this list. He isn't going to be the No. 1 option for Jones, but don’t be surprised if he becomes exactly that down the road for this team.
2. CB Deonte Banks
By all accounts, this was THE guy for the Giants. We've all seen the clips of Schoen and Brian Daboll going crazy after getting to draft him. They even traded up to make sure Deonte Banks didn't escape their grasp, and for good reason.
Banks was the third-ranked cornerback prospect and the 18th ranked prospect overall. Banks has proven he's an athletic freak with a 4.35 40-yard dash and a 42-inch vertical jump. These skills helped him become one of, if not the best, cover corner in college football.
Unlike Hyatt, Banks' college numbers won't make your jaw drop. He collected 38 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception his final year at Maryland. So, why is he ahead of Hyatt? Simply put, he fills an immediate need.
Cornerback is something the Giants have struggled to get right for years and it's clear the Giants brass believes they got it right with Banks. He is going to start opposite Jackson from day one and is going to be a complete difference maker for the defense.
1. C John Michael Schmitz
Admittedly, there's a case to be made for any of the top three guys to get the No. 1 spot in the draft pick power rankings. But, to me, Schmitz is the biggest win of the Giants' draft. Firstly, the kid was an absolute steal.
The No. 1 ranked center in the draft falling all the way to pick No. 57 is almost unheard of. Not too much has been revealed of the celebration from the Giants higher ups with this pick, but you have to figure it was a big one.
Schmitz didn't get any consistent playing time at Minnesota until he was a sophomore, but he proved to be elite from the beginning. In his entire career at Minnesota, he allowed just four QB hits and only two sacks. He's also very quick for a guy who is 6-4, 310 pounds.
Not only does he have the skills, but also the intelligence. He can call every play from the line and has even been working with Jones on a dead snap count. If the duo can work out the kinks during camp, they'll be fun to watch during the year. The Giants found themselves in a brutal spot at center once Nick Gates departed for the Commanders, but they couldn't have found a better answer than Schmitz.
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