Who Do Leading Draft Analysts See for Giants in Round 1 of Draft?

Draft analysts are already speculating what the New York Giants will do in the first round.

Author:
Quinn Slaven
Publish date:
Jan 17, 2024 3:00 PM EST

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After finishing the 2023 season at 6-11, the New York Giants hold the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With the Giants having so many needs, ranging from quarterback to edge rusher to offensive tackle, while NFL draft analysts all agree that the Giants should look to fix their broken offense, the same analysts have varying opinions about what Giants general manager Joe Schoen should do.

Let's look at each position group and see what some leading draft analysts predict for the Giants.

Quarterback

Daniel Jones needed a strong season in 2023 to quiet the critics who questioned his getting a four-year, $160 million contract extension. Unfortunately for him, Jones threw six interceptions and only two touchdowns before tearing his ACL and going on injured reserve. He also dealt with his second neck injury in the last three seasons, further casting doubt about his long-term future with the club.

The 2024 class is well-stocked with quarterbacks, headlined by the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and UNC standout Drake Maye.

Jayden Daniels follows closely behind in terms of ranking by several draft analysts, though he’s generally considered in a separate tier from Williams and Maye. If he remains available when the Giants are on the clock, Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Keith Sanchez (Draft Network), and Connor Rogers (NBC Sports) all see New York seizing the opportunity to add him to the roster.

Wilson compares Daniels to Lamar Jackson, noting, ”No player did more for their draft stock” over the past season. In 2023, Daniels made full use of a talented receiving corps to tally 3,812 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He ran for another 1,134 yards and found the endzone ten times.

Other options include Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Jordan Travis (Florida State). Their respective projections could shift following pro days and the NFL Combine, so it’s possible for New York to take a high-quality signal caller in a later round instead.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

The Giants added wide receiver Jalin Hyatt in the third round of last year’s draft. He showed spurts of dangerous speed down the field but didn't quite show the tools necessary to be considered a WR1. Darius Slayton finished as the receiving yardage leader for the fourth time in the last five seasons, but he's a WR2 at best.

At tight end, the team has Darren Waller, whom they added via trade last year. However, Waller fell short of expectations thanks to a reoccurrence of his hamstring issues that plagued his final season with the Raiders. Slayton and Waller combined for two touchdowns last year and will cost over $22 million in cap space to retain for next season.

If the best quarterbacks are gone, several experts predict the Giants will take a talented pass-catcher at six.

Dane Brugler (The Athletic) and Jordan Reid (ESPN) both like Rome Odunze, statistically the best wide receiver in college football. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he has an excellent catch radius and uses his length to gain separation from defenders.

Damian Parson (Draft Network) and Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) disagree. With Williams, Maye, and Daniels all off the board in the first three picks, Trapasso thinks the Giants will take Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who he says would have “a direct positive impact on the quarterback.”

Bowers draws a pro comparison to San Francisco’s George Kittle for his explosiveness and dynamic playmaking. Georgia got the ball in his hands however possible, be it through passes downfield or jet sweeps.

The 2024 Draft has more NFL-ready receivers than tight ends, so Bowers makes a lot of sense early on.

The 33rd Team’s Connor Livesay may have agreed with the selection, but he sees the Los Angeles Chargers taking Bowers with the fifth pick. Instead, Livesay believes the Giants will go after LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers fell one spot below Odunze statistically and shared targets with another elite college receiver, Brian Thomas Jr., who led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17).

While Hyatt is limited to deep balls, Nabers runs sharp routes and can get open at all three levels.

Offensive Tackle

General Manager Joe Schoen has said he still believes in Evan Neal at right tackle, but Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic) and Trevor Sikkema (Pro Football Focus) do not. With three top quarterback prospects and two receivers potentially off the board, both Baumgardner and Sikkema make the case for the Giants taking the best player available: Notre Dame’s All-American offensive tackle Joe Alt.

Alt, widely regarded as the best offensive lineman in the draft, is someone Sikkema believes possesses the coordination to move from the left side to the right to allow the Giants to move Neal inside to guard.

Though the Giants wouldn’t get their round-one quarterback in this scenario, players like Penix and Travis would be available later. Sticking a rookie behind a porous offensive line, as the Panthers did with Bryce Young, is a recipe for disaster.