Brandon Olsen's New York Giants Mock Draft, Version 3.0

As the Giants keep winning games, their chances at a top quarterback in next year's draft fade. Brandon Olsen has an updated mock draft to reflect the current draft order.

Author:
Brandon Olsen
Publish date:
Dec 1, 2023 8:00 AM EST

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New York Giants

It’s been confusing being a New York Giants fan in recent weeks. Accepting that losses mean a better draft pick and seeing Tommy DeVito maybe play the Giants out of the running for one of the top two QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft. There’s still time for the Giants to be in range for one, whether that’s a draft position change or a move-up now that they have two second-round picks.

Round 1, Pick 6: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt

Seeing the Giants address their offensive line in the first round would be no surprise. Alt is an elite athlete who will likely completely dominate the NFL Combine. Initially recruited as a tight end, he moved to offensive tackle and was a starter by the end of his true freshman season. NFL teams are looking at a potential franchise tackle now that he's draft-eligible.

Drafting Alt would force the team to have to decide Evan Neal, a 2022 first-round pick at right tackle. Neal played left guard at Alabama, and given how poor the Giants interior offensive line is, he could try to slot in at guard.

The biggest concern with Alt would be that he’s never played right tackle, but he possesses enough traits as a left tackle to reasonably project him to be able to succeed on the right side as well.

Oct 28, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Joe Alt (76) leaves the field following the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2, Pick 37: LSU QB Jayden Daniels

The current Heisman front-runner has already accepted his invite to the Senior Bowl in a few months and has been lighting up the scoreboard since his transfer to LSU from Arizona State. Daniels doesn’t possess an elite arm, but he has enough arm to make any throw that an NFL team would ask from him.

At ASU, Daniels did nothing to impress me, and I thought his transfer to LSU would be a colossal failure. The work that he’s put in to improve is nothing short of incredible. His mechanics could still use some work with consistency, but he’s improved greatly there.

Daniels' dual-threat ability is second to none in college football or the NFL Draft. For me, the most impressive thing about Daniels’ film in 2023 has been that he shows absolutely no fear or panic in the face of pressure - whether he extends plays with his legs or just stands and delivers in the pocket.

Round 2, Pick 53: Kansas State IOL Cooper Beebe

Let’s keep working on this offensive line, right? Beebe has played at every position along the offensive line at Kansas State except for center. Add him to your roster and find a spot for him.

In this scenario, the Giants offensive line from left to right would be Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, John Michael Schmitz, Cooper Beebe, and Joe Alt. It would immediately be one of the youngest offensive lines in football. Still, it would be a unit that could develop together and hopefully stay together for multiple years as a foundation of the team.

Beebe has given up four sacks in his four years as a starting offensive lineman. Three of them came in 2020 when he was starting at right tackle.

Round 3, Pick 68: Texas IDL Byron Murphy II

The Giants traded Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks earlier this season and currently have Rakeem Nunez-Roches, A’Shawn Robinson, and DJ Davidson mostly filling that spot.

Byron Murphy II played inside-out at Texas, primarily playing both nose tackle situationally and three-technique. At the next level, he’s likely someone who will very rarely slide in to play the nose.

An immediate rotational player with long-term upside as a starter who can make an impact defending the run and rushing the passer will always be welcome. Positional versatility, play versatility--there’s a lot to like in what Murphy II brings to the table.

Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks (24) and Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (2) take down Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Ole Miss in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Round 4, Pick 102: Georgia LB Smael Mondon

It goes without saying, but adding a Georgia defender to your roster is never a bad idea. Mondon isn’t as cerebral as Nakobe Dean was for Georgia, but you won’t be able to play linebacker in that Kirby Smart defense without a high football IQ.

Mondon has elite physical traits that can translate to any defensive scheme as an off-ball linebacker, as well as ability as an occasional blitzer both off the edge or from that off-ball spot. I don’t think Wink Martindale will be with the organization for much longer, regardless of any reported strife between him and Brian Daboll. Martindale interviewed for head coaching jobs last year and deserves the opportunity again this offseason.

Mondon’s versatility would allow him to contribute early in a Martindale defense and most schemes that could come in with his replacement.

Round 5, Pick 133: Georgia S Tykee Smith

Georgia Bulldogs defenders are usually high-IQ players with elite physical tools and versatility, and Tykee Smith is no different. Smith played all over the secondary at West Virginia and does the same at Georgia, lining up from either safety spot or in the slot.

Injuries have been a concern throughout Smith’s career, and he’s not the most technically sound defensive back around, but in the fifth round, he’s worth a swing. With the Giants safety room having plenty of question marks in the future, Smith can help stop the bleeding for secondary depth.

Round 6, Pick 164: Texas A&M OW Ainias Smith

A draft philosophy I will always stand by is to use day three picks on dynamic playmakers who can contribute in the run game, pass game, and special teams. Enter Ainias Smith.

Smith is very technically raw as a receiver, but he wins with short-area quickness out of the slot and underneath. He’s a very small player, listed at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, but he can be described as “physical as hell.” He’s not scared of contact as a blocker, whether downfield blocking for ball-carriers or in pass protection.

Elite speed isn’t there, but with his quickness and vision, there’s an upside in Smith that justifies a Day 3 pick here.