Post-Senior Bowl New York Giants Mock Draft
The New York Giants season is over, Senior Bowl practices have come and gone, and it’s mock draft season. As we get closer to the NFL Draft, we’ll work in different scenarios for mock drafts regarding trading up or down, prioritizing certain positions over future draft capital.
R1, No. 6: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
With Joe Schoen as general manager, the Giants have prioritized selecting premium positions early in the draft, with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal, and Deonte Banks being the team’s first-round selections. That trend will likely stay the same this year, with the Giants still lacking talent at those pillar positions going into year three of this tenure.
This isn’t the first time that I’ve had the Giants pick Fashanu in a mock draft, and for good reason: he’s an elite offensive tackle with the potential to be a cornerstone at the position for years. There is a world in which the Giants look at this as improving two positions on the offensive line with one draft pick.
In this scenario, Fashanu can slot in as immediate starter at tackle while Neal moves to guard. It’s been glaringly obvious that Neal’s stint at tackle hasn’t been a successful one, so moving him to guard and giving him the final two years of his contract to prove his value before deciding on his fifth-year option is the best decision.
R2, No. 39: WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
The Giants have long needed a receiver that could develop into a legitimate number-one option on the outside. With how talented this wide receiver class is, there’s an expectation that some receivers who would otherwise be first-round picks will be available early on day two.
Troy Franklin is one of those players. He’s an elite all-around athlete who can stretch the field vertically and explode from his cuts. Despite being considered a vertical player, I think he’s got the route-running ability that projects well at the next level.
This move doesn’t address the quarterback room directly, but it improves the supporting cast around them to make his job easier.
R2, No. 47: CB Max Melton, Rutgers
Few cornerbacks helped themselves as much as Max Melton did at this week’s Senior Bowl practices. The environment isn’t built for defensive backs to find success, but Melton continued to prove his worth in front of NFL teams and media.
Melton weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 5’11” and 193 pounds, 42nd percentile height and 52nd percentile weight. Throughout the week, Melton kept in the receiver pocket and was aggressive at the point of attack - which we knew anyway by his film at production at Rutgers.
Melton is a scheme-versatile corner that could contribute no matter who the Giants eventually hire as defensive coordinator.
R3, No. 70: OL Christian Haynes, UConn
The Senior Bowl allows prospects from smaller football schools like UConn to show out against future NFL players; Christian Haynes was thriving in that environment. Haynes consistently stonewalled defensive linemen and, at one point, had LSU Jordan Jefferson so frustrated that he ripped Haynes’ helmet off.
Even in his film, Haynes is a nasty blocker on the interior that packs a ton of punch in his hands. In this scenario, with Fashanu at tackle and Neal at guard, this is a Giants offensive line suddenly showing some actual promise.
R4, No. 107: TE Theo Johnson, Penn State
Let me introduce you to the second-fastest tight end at this year’s Senior Bowl in, Theo Johnson. Johnson topped out at 18.68 MPH during the second day of practice and could be a contributor from day one at tight end. I wouldn’t pencil him in as a starter, but adding someone to give Darren Waller more breaks that could line up all over the formation is a bonus.
There are definite concerns in Johnson’s game, as there are with every day three picks, but the upside alone, if he works on improving his technique, would make him a steal of a selection.
R5, No. 139: RB Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
Thirty-one players in FBS history can say they have had 295 receiving yards in a single game. Dylan Laube is part of that exclusive list after his performance against Central Michigan earlier this season.
Laube is a very similar size to the Giants' 2023 pick, Eric Gray, out of Oklahoma. The biggest difference, however, is that Laube is much more of a runner-receiver than Gray, who is a running back who can catch some passes.
The main concern that I have with Laube is whether or not he can improve his play strength without sacrificing his athleticism. Laube is solid in pass protection; he knows where he’s supposed to be and at least slows down rushers. In the NFL, though, blitzes will be much stronger and faster than the completion he’s used to, which could also be a problem for him potentially creating yards after contact.
R6, No. 184: S/RB Sione Vaki, Utah
Sione Vaki is an intriguing prospect who was thrown into action at running back due to injuries in the Utah backfield. In his six games at running back, Vaki was a home run threat every time he touched the ball.
At the Senior Bowl, we saw Vaki practice primarily with the safeties, but he also took reps with the skill position players. On day three, you go for players who can contribute anywhere and maybe become impact players for your team. Taking a guy like Vaki allows the Giants to have someone who can be a depth piece at two positions and a special teams player.
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