With the first round wrapping up and the NY Giants selecting Deonte Banks, there are still plenty of holes on the roster that need to be filled. The good thing about this is that plenty of talented players are still available on Day 2.
These guys not only play in positions of need for the Giants, but they are likely to be on the board when NY makes its second and third-round selections. Drafting these players would not only fill the aforementioned holes, but the talent they bring to the field could be a real game-changer for the team. With that said, here's a look at five players still there for the taking Joe Schoen should consider:
5. Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann
Following the Banks selection, the Giants still need to focus on the interior offensive line, specifically center. With this in mind, we believe their best option in the second round would be Joe Tippmann out of Wisconsin. He may not have as high of a floor as a guy like John Michael Schmitz, but the value the Giants could get out of drafting Tippmann 57th overall would be insane.
Coming in at 6-6, 313 pounds, Tippmann is an absolute monster on the inside, serving as a true mauler for Wisconsin the last two seasons. This sort of monster is exactly what the Giants need inside blocking for Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.
Tippmann may have some room to improve with his hand placement and footwork, but playing on the inside will help mitigate that once he reaches the pros. Adding a mauler like this in the second round is the most ideal value they could possibly get. The ceiling Tippmann has projects him to potentially be a top center in the league in due time.
It may take some time for this ceiling to come to fruition, but Tippmann would be an immediate upgrade over what the Giants have had at center in the last five years right out of the gate. He would be a strong get for Schoen and Co.
4. Clemson LB Trenton Simpson
If the NY Giants opt not to go with a center in the second round, another player they very well could target is Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson. This is a player who probably should have gone in the first round, but for one reason or another he didn't.
Simpson is an all-around athletic freak of a linebacker with tons of upside in coverage. Through 12 games this season, Simpson racked up 68 combined tackles, 16 total pressures, and two forced fumbles. In addition to this, Simpson allowed just 23 receptions on 36 targets for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants may already have Bobby Okereke, but adding a versatile chess piece like Simpson to the team's defense would be a massive boost. Not only is he incredibly solid as a run-stopper, but his potential in coverage is next to non existent in this year's class.
Not only does Simpson have the intangibles to be great in coverage, but his positional versatility is incredible. Throughout his college career, Simpson played 381 snaps in the slot, and 387 snaps coming off the edge. New York may have their LB1, but bringing in someone like Simpson would be an excellent choice if they decide to go with the best player available in Round 2.
3. Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo
With the NY Giants opting not to select a WR in the first round, it only seems right that they look to select one on Friday. We believe the best option for where the Giants are selecting in the second round could be Ole Miss's Jonathan Mingo.
Gaining comparisons to Anquan Boldin, Mingo projects to be a consistent, big-body outside receiver that any team would love to have. Just like Boldin, he likely won't be a super dynamic weapon, but Mingo will provide tons of consistency for a Giants team that needs it at WR.
Last season at Ole Miss, Mingo caught 51 passes for 861 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 16.9 yards per catch. Alongside being a productive threat, Mingo is also a freak athlete, running a 4.46 40-yard dash as well as registering a 39.5-inch vertical at the NFL Combine.
The Giants don't have too many consistent big bodies in their receiving core entering 2023, so adding a guy like Mingo could go a long way in turning this offense from average to elite. Hopefully, he is available when they make their pick at 57.
2. Wake Forrest WR A.T. Perry
If the NY Giants decide to go another route with their Round 2 selection, a very good option for them at WR in the third round is A.T. Perry out of Wake Forest. Similar to the aforementioned Mingo, Perry is a big-body outside guy who could bring tons of consistency to the Giants' receiving core.
Perry's 6-3, 198-pound frame, coupled with his 4.47 speed, would make him a deadly threat for the Giants. He may not be a very explosive athlete, but Perry projects to be a rather consistent threat that would fit in most offenses, including the Giants.
Through 13 games last season, Perry caught 81 passes for 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.6 yards per reception. While these are some pretty ridiculous numbers, his lack of elite technique is what's holding him back from being more than a third-round pick. However, these are things that can be worked on, and considering how good he was without it, we can only imagine how productive Perry could be if he fixed his footwork.
New York is in prime position to draft a very productive receiver come Day 2. While they may not be as exciting as Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Zay Flowers, these guys are special talents in their own rights and would serve the Giants well if drafted.
1. Florida OG O'Cyrus Torrence
Now, this may be a bit of a stretch, but with Schoen hinting that the NY Giants may not be done trading up, it wouldn't surprise us to see New York move up the board to take one of the best interior offensive linemen from this year's draft class.
The gap between O'Cyrus Torrence, and the next-best guard from this year's draft is quite massive. Missing out on this talent may not be an ideal scenario for the Giants to be in, especially given the state of their interior offensive line. Josh Ezeudu may have potential, but New York can always shift him around or even move on from Mark Glowinski in order to make room for Torrence.
In 355 pass-blocking snaps, Torrence has allowed just eight pressures while also being an absolute mauler in the run game. Torrence uses his massive frame and hands to make life a living nightmare for any opposing defender that gets in his way.
If Schoen can manage to move up the board without sacrificing too many picks to draft Torrence, the Giants very well could add yet another young offensive lineman with incredible amounts of potential to a core that already features Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal. Let's see if Schoen makes this happen.