NY Giants Mock Draft: Joe Schoen trades down and still lands next franchise QB

To trade up or not to trade up. That has been the question for the NY Giants leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft with the first round around the corner.

We’ve envisioned every possible scenario for the Giants with them moving up. We’ve had them trading with the New England Patriots for the No. 3 overall pick and the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 4 spot. We’ve also had them staying put at No. 6 and taking one of the best players available.

However, what if the Giants decide to not trade up, but to trade down instead? This would be something that could surprise a lot of people.

So, in this mock draft, we have the Giants moving out of their current spot, but still adding assets and bringing in a new franchise signal-caller for Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll.

TRADE ALERT: NY Giants trade No. 6 and No. 70 to the Denver Broncos for No. 12 overall and 2025 first and second-round picks, select Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

This was a tough decision to make because Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was still on the board when the Giants were offered this from Denver. However, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers were not.

Instead of taking McCarthy, the Giants move down and swap first-round picks with Denver, while adding one for 2025 as well. In this case, they still get the chance to land a quarterback of the future in Michael Penix Jr.

With the offensive line looking much different from a year ago and with Jermaine Eluemunor potentially playing right tackle, he’d have the opportunity to be the blindside tackle for Penix if he were to be the starter at some point. Even if Drew Lock is given the opportunity to be the starter over Daniel Jones, Eluemunor being the right tackle would still be an upgrade.

Penix doesn’t have to start immediately and can sit and learn behind Lock (or Jones) and take over either in 2025 or if he struggles, at some point in the 2024 season.

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

The Giants addressed a massive need with the selection of Penix in the first round, so NY decides to address the other major need of the team in Round 2 when they select South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette.

Legette is no stranger to the G-Men in mock drafts, as many have had Legette pegged for the Giants in this round. Putting Legette with Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Wan’Dale Robinson and the returning Isaiah Hodgins will improve the wide receiver room tremendously,

Legette had a tremendous senior season at South Carolina, as he had 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. With the speed and athleticism the Giants already have at wide receiver, Legette’s strength and physicality will fit right in with what the Giants need, especially if Darren Waller decides to retire from the league and doesn’t come back for a second season with the Giants.

NY Giants third-round pick: Michigan RB Blake Corum

Initially, New York didn’t have a third-round pick from the trade made with the Broncos, but the Giants will land the Cincinnati Bengals' No. 97 overall pick and get back into the third round. With the pick, the Giants address a new need from free agency and select Blake Corum.

This is the second straight mock draft where the Giants look at a running back, a position we didn’t have them addressing. But, with Saquon Barkley leaving for Philly and the Giants likely adapting a running back by committee approach, Corum can split carries with Devin Singletary and Eric Gray.

Corum had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Michigan and nearly had a third one in his sophomore season for the Wolverines. In 2023, Corum had 258 carries for 1,245 yards and 27 touchdowns. The year before, Corum had 247 attempts for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns.

While Corum might not be able to replace everything Barkley could do, he and Singletary could form a solid tandem backfield and hopefully, have a better line in front of them to make a positive impact for the Giants in 2024 and beyond.

NY Giants fourth-round pick: Notre Dame CB Cam Hart

The Giants need secondary help, especially with Adoree’ Jackson likely not coming back to the team. Big Blue did re-sign Darnay Holmes and Nick McCloud, plus they still have Tre Hawkins, but is that really enough for the Giants to go with Deonte Banks? Probably not.

Even with the Giants interest in former Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White, the Giants can still add depth with the selection of Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart.

Hart had 21 total tackles with three forced fumbles, four pass deflections and one fumble recovery in his senior year in 2023. At 6-3, he is a very large player for a cornerback, which can bode well for him going up against the bigger receivers in the NFL.

Hart also has tremendous footwork, especially in his backpedal. He also doesn’t panic when he needs to re-establish himself against a receiver. If the Giants do sign White in free agency, Hart wouldn’t have to start immediately and could learn from the long-time veteran.

NY Giants sixth round pick: Texas OT Christian Jones

The Giants have addressed a lot of their offensive line needs with an overhaul of the entire position in free agency. They added Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr. , Aaron Stinnie, Austin Schlottmann and Matt Nelson.

Even with the additions made in free agency, the Giants will make one last move to bolster the line with the sixth-round selection of Christian Jones from Texas.

At 6-5 and 315 pounds, Jones played primarily at right tackle for the Longhorns in 2023, so it would give the Giants another option at RT, especially if the Giants need to move Eluemunor to another position on the line.

It also doesn’t force the Giants to put Evan Neal back in the lineup if he isn’t ready to play, as he's still recovering from ankle surgery. Even if Neal is fully recovered, he played poorly in 2023 at right tackle. Having additional depth at the position can’t hurt the Giants case in trying to revamp an offensive line that surrendered 85 total sacks in 2023.