Quinn Slaven’s 7-Round New York Giants Only Mock Draft
In less than a month, all NFL eyes will descend on Kansas City, Missouri, for the 2023 NFL Draft. With ten picks in his pocket, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is sure to make some splashes in a loaded class of talent.
For my seven-round, GIants-only mock draft, I’ve used the NFL Mock Draft Database’s simulator to predict what the Giants could do in a few weeks. I also give you a look at some of the names that were off the board at the time of the selection (early rounds only), and--spoiler alert--I have what I think could be the steal of the draft very late in this mock.
R1, No. 25: RB Bijan Robinson
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 215 lbs.
School: Texas
Off the Board: DT Calijah Kancey, DT Bryan Bresee, WR Jordan Addison
If Texas running back Bijan Robinson falls to the New York Giants at pick 25, he is a no-brainer pickup and a potential long-term solution in the backfield, especially given the current uncertain long-term future of Saquon Barkley.
In three years with the Longhorns, Robison accumulated 3,410 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns. He also hauled in 60 catches for 805 yards and eight touchdowns.
He shows elite patience, allowing blockers to set up their positioning before bursting through gaps for big gains. Robinson can break through arm tackles and throttle down for quick cuts, making him a nightmare on first, second, or third down.
New York’s offense showed in its first year under head coach Brian Daboll a dependency on Barkley thanks to a power running scheme that draws to a tailback capable of gaining the yardage to set up short to medium play-action passes. Barkley’s route-running and pass-catching abilities also clear out the box when he exits the backfield on routes to the flat.
Unfortunately, Barkley has struggled to remain healthy throughout his NFL career, and absent his reaching a long-term deal, his future with the team is murky at best. In five seasons, Barkley has suffered a high ankle sprain, ACL tear, MCL strain, low-ankle injury, and cervical neck stinger. Draft Sharks describes him as “high-risk” for future injuries, with an 82% chance he will miss playing time in 2023.
With Barkley playing on a franchise tag, Robinson could be an excellent replacement with lower injury risk and a cheaper contract.
Here's what NFL.com had to say about Robinson:
Three-down back with exceptional talent in all phases. Owns a variety of footwork tools to alter pace, direction and power. Feet are fast and fully connected with his vision for optimal results. Resets run track with sudden jump-cuts against penetration. Runs low to the ground and possesses rare contact balance. Ability to stack moves adds a level of unpredictability to his carries. Pinballs off of angle strikes and can rip through leg tackles. Pairs instant burst with solid top-end speed. Finishes runs with authority. Soft hands and a nightmare to deal with on wheel routes.
R2, No. 57: LB Jack Campbell
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 249 lbs. | School: Iowa
Off the Board: C John Michael Schmitz, IOL Steve Avila
The Giants struggled to stop the run last season, winding up in the bottom five defenses in the league against rushing attacks. General manager Joe Schoen addressed the need early in free agency, adding linebacker Bobby Okereke and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches.
Still, if the Giants have an opportunity to add an immediate starter in the second round who specializes in swallowing up runners, then they could be hard-pressed to pass up the chance. Iowa’s Jack Campbell is coming off an incredible senior season in which he won the Dick Butkus Award—an honor reserved for the nation’s top linebacker.
Campbell led the Big Ten in tackles over the past two years, recording 140 and 125, respectively. He has also shown to be effective in coverage, snagging five interceptions in the past three seasons.
The Cedar Falls, Iowa native saw his draft stock rise following an impressive showing at the NFL Combine in late February. NFL.com's Chad Reuter regards Campbell as the most athletic linebacker in the 2023 class, noting:
Big, long frame for the position. Highly communicative with his teammates on the field. Feel for blocking schemes and a nose for the action. Able to step downhill and neutralize lead blocker. Scrapes with pads square to the line. Finds his run fit and spills the action wide. Careful to close distance to ensure tackle success. Awareness and ball skills to succeed in zone coverage.
R3, No. 89: CB Julius Brents
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 198 lbs. | School: Kansas State
Off the Board: C Joe Tippmann, IOL Luke Wypler
Aside from adding cornerbacks Leonard Johnson and Amani Oruwariye in free agency, the Giants can never have too many corners, as they found last year when they lost both starters, Aaron Robinson and Adoree' Jackson, for chunks of the season.
In a deep cornerback class, expect the Giants to dip in at least once. And at 6-foot-3, 198-pounds, Kansas State’s Julius Brents, if he's there in the third round, could be a good fit at this spot. Brents possess an ideal combination of size and leaping ability to defend against goalline fades and outside runs.
He also has the strength and fast-twitch hand-fighting skills to reroute receivers, funneling them to deeper zone coverage schemes. Although he can play press-man, he runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and will struggle to lock down vertical-threat receivers full-time.
Brents will need to hone in on his zone coverage skills, but in man coverage, he attacks through the hands-on 50/50 balls, tilting the odds in his favor. He is an outside corner first and foremost, but his instincts and still nerves could make him a viable candidate at safety or nickel should the need arise.
Reuter, in his scouting report of Brents, notes:
Rare blend of size and length at cornerback. Can jab and maintain contact through press release. Spies quarterback from side-shuffle and overlaps his coverage. Digests route combination cleanly from zone. Able to partition off catch space on deep sideline throw. Explosive leaps to win the high-point battle. Aggressive attacker as a run supporter. Struggles to stay in phase through pattern breaks. Will lose ground once the route becomes a foot race.
R4, No. 128: WR Michael Wilson
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 213 lbs. | School: Stanford
Off the Board: WR Marvin Mims, RB Deuce Vaugh
The Giants have added offensive firepower this off-season, namely tight end Darren Waller via trade and wide receiver Parris Campbell via a free agent signing. Still, as quarterback Daniel Jones continues to develop, he is yet to establish a strong connection with a WR1.
Stanford’s Michael Wilson may not crack the ranks of the best receivers in the league, but he has a high ceiling and has the potential to take pressure off the rest of the corps. In five collegiate seasons, Wilson had 1,662 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
He’s a master of positioning himself between the defender and the football and makes contested catches look easy. The primary knock against him is a lack of durability. Wilson suffered season-ending injuries in 2020 and 2022 and hasn't remained available for an entire season since 2019 when he recorded 56 catches for 672 yards and five touchdowns.
The Giants have other needs to fill before looking for another receiver, but Wilson is a solid choice on Day 3. Based on his outstanding performance in the Senior Bowl, in which he racked up 76 yards and a touchdown, the 6-foot-2, 213-pound Stanford product looks to be in excellent playing shape at the right time.
Reuter notes of Wilson, who was voted a team captain, that his game is a little more sophisticated upon further inspection and that he even offers value on special teams where his skillset could translate to gunner.
Plays the game with tangible urgency. Experienced with more complicated route asks. Creates early separation with long strides. Runs with good toughness after the catch. Eager and effective as a run blocker. Gets into opposition with positioning and pop. Above-average talent and traits for role as a gunner on special teams.
Round 5, No. 160: IOL Jarrett Patterson
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 306 lbs. | School: Notre Dame
Off the Board: DT Moro Ojomo
Outside of the top two or three prospects, offensive linemen are often a grab-bag of talent. With plenty of late-round draft capital, the Giants should look to acquire a few projects with the hope of turning at least one into a starter.
The first in this mock draft is Jarrett Patterson, an interior offensive lineman from Notre Dame.
Patterson is great at pass blocking, double teams and turning a defender’s shoulders away from the play, but he lacks impact on run blocks and doesn’t always bring his hips into contact.
In three seasons at Notre Dame, the versatile interior lineman never gave up a sack. Patterson also left the 2023 NFL Combine with the sixth-best score for centers, making him a legitimate backup with potential for more.
According to Pro Football Focus, Patterson did not allow a sack over 1,688 pass-blocking snaps for the Fighting Irish. He also played over 2,000 snaps at center with over 800 snaps at left guard, highlighting his versatility for the interior. Overall, Patterson finished with an impressive 98.8 pass-blocking efficiency rating in five seasons at Notre Dame.
NFL.com's Lance Zerlein notes of the team captain:
No wasted motion in ripping hands into the block. Consistent to improve his positioning to finish. Connects to block and is hard to disengage from. Sifts through second level, keying on blitzers. Punch timing to get extension.
Round 5, No. 172: CB Jakorian Bennett
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 188 lbs. | School: Maryland
Off the Board: CB Nic Jones, IOL Ricky Stromberg
Maryland’s Jakorian Bennett represents the other end of the cornerback spectrum from Julius Brents. Though smaller in stature, Bennett scored the third-highest athleticism ranking for the position group.
He ran an official 4.30 40-yard dash and uses his acceleration to run through the catch-point for pass breakups and interceptions.
Bennett’s play and route recognition are often on point, leading to big hits and highlights. However, he has not honed in on either zone of man coverage to the point of specialization and shows flashes of inconsistency that could worry NFL scouts. Still,, per Pro Football Focus, Bennett is tied for the tenth lowest completion percentage rate (44%) among the draft-eligible cornerbacks in this class.
Reuter had some glowing things to say about Bennett in his scouting report:
Well built with NFL size. Good body control to stay in phase with double moves. Loose hips for rapid flip-to-sprint trigger. Eager to crowd receiver’s catch space on deep sideline throws. Ravenous catch challenges; attempts to pull, chop and slap ball free. Recorded 27 passes defensed over the last two seasons. Will get downhill against the run.
R6, No. 209: QB Clayton Tune
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 220 lbs. | School: Houston
Off the Board: TE Zach Kuntz, IOL Chandler Zavala
In a crowded quarterback class featuring household names like Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, Houston’s Clayton Tune has flown under the radar as a future starter in the NFL.
Tune had an excellent senior season as the ACC’s leading passer, completing 67% of his throws for 4,061 yards and 40 touchdowns. His junior year was solid, too, when he gained 3,546 yards through the air and tossed 30 touchdowns. Throughout college, Tune never threw more than 10 interceptions in a season.
Tune should be available between rounds four and six of the 2023 NFL Draft, right in the range where the Giants have plenty of picks to spare. While many fans wouldn’t imagine using a pick on a quarterback, after just signing Daniel Jones to a four-year contract, Tune is worth it as a potential developmental prospect.
He appears capable of running all of the read option and quarterback draw plays to keep the rest of the offense on track. He has a big frame at 6-foot-3 inches, 220 pounds, and can use his legs effectively in the red zone, averaging 41.9 rushing yards per game last year.
At most, Tune represents an affordable project with the potential to take over a the backup if the team moves on from Tyrod Taylor after this season.
Among the many things Rueter likes about Tune's game is his ability to overcome adversity.
Proven ability to overcome adversity. Works his feet to find platform deliveries when possible. Patience and willing to work through progressions. Uses rhythmic pocket climbs to secure his delivery. Adequate drive power between the hashes when planted. Maintains field scan when leaving the pocket.
R7, No. 240: S DeMarcco Hellams
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 203 lbs. | School: Alabama
Off the Board: EDGE Brenton Cox Jr., WR Malik Knowles, WR C.J. Johnson
Despite battling injuries, New York’s safeties were one of the more reliable units in 2022. The depth and versatility of the group helped make up for weaknesses at linebacker and corner.
The group will miss Julian Love, who signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, so turning to a late-round draft pick is a viable option. Alabama’s hard-hitter DeMarcco Hellams could supplement the experienced group with outstanding run-stopping ability.
In his senior season, Hellams recorded 108 tackles and seven pass deflections, many of which came from big hits jarring the ball loose. He is a true boundary safety, ideal for blitzes and underneath coverage. He sometimes struggles to carry receivers deep and recover when out of phase, but the Giants run enough one-high safety looks to make his skillset appealing.
Zierlein praised Hellams for his physicality, also noting:
Fits up his run defense responsibilities. Bend-and-wrap tackler in the open field. Sifts through combination routes from high safety. Anticipates and breaks quickly on throws in front of him. Strikes with force over the middle. Races in as sticky tackler to limit run after catch.
R7, No. 243: DT Jerrod Clark
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 334 | School: Coastal Carolina
Off the Board: CB Terell Smith, DL Jacob Slade
Sticking with the theme of run-stoppers, Coastal Carolina’s Jerrod Clark is a massive force on the interior defensive line. At 334 pounds, he commanded double teams in college and still managed to wreak havoc.
Clark is a fan of the bull rush and uses it effectively to collapse the pocket and catch runners behind the line of scrimmage. While more variety will be necessary at the next level, Clark also flashes above-average short-burst speed.
An NFL team may draft Clark to try to slim him down. At around 300 pounds, he could play even faster and retain the strength necessary to control the point of attack.
As a senior at Coastal Carolina, he earned a third-team All-Sun Belt honor for his 41 tackles, 10 for loss with 3.5 sacks and one blocked kick.
Reuter had this to say about Clark as a prospect:
Team captain who possesses a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Adequate foot quickness for his size. Gets off the ball and into the block with force. Decent strength to challenge double teams. Could become more disruptive at lighter weight.
R7, No. 254: OT Nick Saldiveri
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 318 lbs. | School: Old Dominion
Off the Board: IOL Anthony Bradford, LB Drake Thomas, CB Lance Boykin
The second offensive line project in this mock, Old Dominion’s Nick Saldiveri is my favorite selection. Coming from a smaller school, he hasn’t received the attention he deserves, much to the benefit of the Giants.
While New York is mostly set for left and right tackle starters, Saldiveri can play across the line at multiple positions. He has the natural speed and size to be an NFL starter someday.
Following the NFL Combine, he was the third-most athletic tackle and received the fifth-best overall score. The former Monarch faces criticism for hand fighting and placement, but I did say project, right?
Saldiveri gave up five sacks in 2021 but rebounded in the best way last year, not sacrificing any sacks and only two quarterback hits.
Saldiveri can pull, reach the next level or pin multiple defensive linemen in their tracks on outside runs. He is an absolute punisher and potentially the steal of the draft at pick 254.
Football IQ helps him sort through movement and alter assignments if necessary. Agility and redirection to catch moving targets on the second level. Accelerates and charges through down blocks with choppy feet. Makes himself longer by effectively counterpunching in pass sets. Easy lateral slides versus rush counters. Keeps pads squared as long as possible versus edge rushers. Athletic tools to be an active participant in screen game.
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