Brandon Olsen's Post-Combine Giants Mock Draft
With the NFL Combine wrapped up, rumors are running rampant about where players will wind up now that we’ve got verified testing numbers, but as with every year in the pre-draft process, most players will return to their film grade.
For this mock draft, I used PFF's mock draft simulator. Here are my picks.
Round 1, Pick 6: LSU QB Jayden Daniels
It’s been an astronomical rise for Jayden Daniels since his transfer to LSU from Arizona State. What Daniels brings as a legitimate dual-threat quarterback will keep him high on team boards regardless of his negatives.
How Daniels can work around pressure and create plays with his legs immediately raises his floor. I don’t believe that Daniels is the kind of quarterback who needs to sit for a year, so this addition would open up the door for a competition that would lead to either starting Daniels as a rookie or giving Daniel Jones one last opportunity to prove himself.
Round 2, Pick 39: Missouri DL/EDGE Darius Robinson
This will be one of the most popular selections we see for the Giants throughout this pre-draft process, and for good reason: he’s a talented football player that fits. I like to think of him as the player who could translate well to the NFL with Denico Autry-level expectations and the potential to exceed those expectations, too.
Robinson plays with power and fires off the line of scrimmage at the snap. His technique still needs some refinement, and he needs to improve his pass-rush arsenal, but that kind of motor paired with his measurables is something NFL teams will love.
Round 2, Pick 47: UConn IOL Christian Haynes
The Giants desperately need to upgrade the quality of their interior offensive line, and adding someone like Christian Haynes gives them someone who can step in early. His floor is already higher than most of the linemen on the Giants roster, and his ceiling is that of an above-average guard.
Haynes comes in with 13th percentile height and 66th percentile arm length but an all-around athletic profile that projects well at the next level. On-field work at the Senior Bowl and Combine has been very kind to Haynes and paired with consistent film. Giants fans would much appreciate his ability to pick up stunts and twists.
Round 3, Pick 70: South Carolina WR Xavier Legette
For years, Giants fans have been begging the team to bring in a competent outside receiver who can be a “it doesn’t matter if he’s open, just give him the ball” player. Allow me to introduce you to Xavier Legette, whose 6’1 and 221-pound frame makes him one of the most physically stout receivers we’ve seen.
His route-running needs work, specifically his release and route tempo, but even when he isn’t open - he’s open. On passes 20+ yards downfield, Legette caught seven of his eleven contested targets. He’s about as “Alpha” as a receiver can be, but he’s also got the ability to catch and run on anyone, clocking a 4.39 40-yard dash and hitting 22.3 MPH against Mississippi State in 2023.
Round 4, Pick 108: Rutgers CB Max Melton
Melton is versatile in the best of ways: capable of playing in multiple systems and being capable of playing as the inside or outside corner. At 5’11, Melton is about 42nd percentile height but he has a near 6’4” wingspan to offset any questions about his size. As far as physicality goes, there may not be a more physical day two or day three option.
With Shane Bowen coming in as defensive coordinator, the Giants' secondary needs to get more versatile to play the different coverages they’ll be asked to play, so Melton’s ability to play inside-out gives the Giants more combinations to work with.
Round 5, Pick 140: Kansas State IOL Cooper Beebe
I will say this: I believe I’m much higher on Cooper Beebe than most media is, and these mock draft simulators are. If he’s there in the fifth round, I would sprint to the podium crying tears of joy with his name on that card.
Beebe is an absolute killer in pass protection, and while he has his flaws as far as running out in space sometimes and some length concerns - he’s a bulldozer that can stonewall defenders and pick up stunts easily. His versatility playing every spot but center throughout his career is invaluable as someone who ideally sticks at guard but can slide in if needed in a pinch.
Round 6, Pick 184: Purdue HB Tyrone Tracy
Another player where I think I’m significantly higher on him than the consensus. Tyrone Tracy needs to work on his patience as a ball carrier, but he shows a natural feel for the game and runs the rock as a receiver for the first four years of his career before moving to running back in 2023.
Tracy was always a threat with the ball in his hands but has been thriving as a back, and in the modern NFL, where lines are becoming increasingly blurred between positions, he would be a welcome addition to most rosters. He also has experience as a return man, with one touchdown in 2023.
