New York Giants 3-Round Mock Draft After Free Agency First Wave

The first wave of free agency is in the books, and as expected, the Giants weren't major players--they couldn't be, given their cap situation.

But new general manager Joe Schoen did add some key pieces to the team, which is looking to snap out of a mostly decade-long funk of poor football. Newcomers like guard Mark Glowinski, center Jon Feliciano, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones are all committed to doing their part to help stop the bleeding. Still, there is so much more work to be done, and the bulk of that work--the draft--will be very telling.

That said, below is my latest three-round, Giants-only mock draft. I used Pro Football Focus's simulator. I did not engage in any trades (though I am more convinced that there will be a trade in the first round.)

In using the simulator, some players were off the board, so I've tried to give you my logic behind each pick as best as possible.

Mock away!

Round 1, No. 5: OT Evan Neal

The first four picks off the board were Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton (Jaguars), Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (Texans), and North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (Jets).

Faced with a choice of offensive tackles Evan Neal (Alabama) or Charles Cross (Mississippi State) at No. 5. I went with Neal, whom I think is the best value at that spot.

The 6-foot-7 and 350-pound Neal, who per PFF has allowed just 24 pressures over the past two years between left and right tackle, can play left or right tackle.

That gives the Giants options should they find that for some reason, they want to move Andrew Thomas from left to right tackle (highly unlikely) or if they simply want to plug in a guy who has sufficient college experience at right tackle into that slot.

For a top-five draft pick, I don't want a guy who will need a position switch. I'm also not crazy about picking a guy who played on one side the bulk of his college career (as is the case with Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross) only to move him to the other side.

Round 1, No. 7: CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner

Disclaimer: I share Peter King's opinion that the Giants are likely to trade away one of their two first-round picks in this draft, as outlined in this article. Since, however, I didn't make trades in this mock, I'm making the pick for the Giants.

The Panthers, at No. 6, grabbed offensive tackle Charles Cross, so the next three “best available” players on the board were all cornerbacks: Derek Stingley Jr (LSU), Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (Cincinnati), and Trent McDuffie (Washington).

I went with Gardner as I'm assuming (yes, I know) that the Giants move on from James Bradberry. If that proves to be the case, the Giants would be able to replace a tall cornerback (Bradberry) with another tall cornerback in Gardner (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) that has impressive length, something new Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale expressed a penchant for in his corners.

Gardner has never allowed a touchdown in his college career. Last season was the definition of a shut-down cornerback allowing 131 yards in 14 games per Pro Football Focus.

The new Giants defense will most likely rely heavily on cover cornerbacks. Gardner makes too much sense for the Giants at No. 7 if he's still on the board and if the Giants don't trade out of this spot.

Round 2, No. 36: DI Travis Jones, UConn

The Giants need a nose tackle for their defense, and the 6-foot-5, 333-pound Jones gets some serious consideration here to fill that role.

A big-bodied space-eater, Jones also showed an ability to push the pocket and create pressure for the Huskies. PFF had him with 25 pressures last season and 21 stops.

Jones, a strong performer at the Senior Bowl, has experience lining up in both the A-gap and B-gap for the Huskies. He probably needs a little more work in his pass-rushing game.

Still, if the Giants are looking for a true nose tackle after losing Austin Johnson in free agency, and if they don't feel that Dexter Lawrence II is a fit for that spot, Jones deserves some consideration.

Round 3, No. 67: Edge Josh Paschal, Kentucky

With the Giants having lost outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter to the Falcons and with questions about the rest of the pass-rushing group (save for Azsez Ojulari), the Giants will likely need to add a pass rusher at some point.

Kentucky's Josh Paschal, 6-foot-3, 278 pounds, can fit in an odd or even defensive front. Per PFF, he recorded a Power-5 leading 12.4 percent run stop rate last season.

While still needing some refinement in his pass-rushing off the edge, Paschal sounds as though he can provide some interior pass rush prowess in the sub-packages as an interior rusher, similar to how the Giants deployed Justin Tuck back in the day.

Round 3, No. 81: S Nick Cross, Maryland

After parting ways with safety Logan Ryan, the Giants figure to be on the lookout for another safety. Maryland’s Nick Cross (6-foot, 212 pounds), who clocked in with a 4.34 40-yard dash, is more of a box safety, but he does have the tools to play some single-high. Cross has very good speed and good length.

He’s particularly fared well against tight ends during his career and takes good angles to the ball carrier. He’s physical, tough, and competitive. He is a downhill racer that, despite lacking quick feet, can turn and run and who has a second gear.

He’ll need some fine-tuning to his game, particularly reps in match-up zone schemes and opportunities to improve his recognition abilities. Still, there’s enough talent there for Martindale to work with if Cross lands with the Giants.

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