Mock Draft Monday: Three-Round Giants Mock with a Trade

Scared money don't make money--that's exactly the approach I have taken in my latest New York Giants three-round mock draft, which I conducted using the NFL Mock Draft database's simulator.

While I'm not so sure the draft--and in particular the first round--will pan out the way it did for me in this simulation, I was able to get some extra picks in the draft thanks to a trade with the Las Vegas Raidersint the second round in which the Giants sent Pick No. 39 to Las Vegas in exchange for Picks 44 (2nd round), 77 (third round), 113 (4th round), 221 and 225 (seventh round).

Again, that's probably not a realistic haul, as I can't see any team giving that kind of haul. But for what it's worth, the Raiders, in the simulation, got Texas IDL T'Vondre Sweat, in case you're wondering.

But enough about the Raiders. What picks did I make for the Giants, and how did they grade out according to the simulator?

Read on, and mock away!

R1, No. 6: WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ohio State (Grade A+)

I highly doubt Marvin Harrison Jr falls to the Giants, but I go with what's on the board with these simulations. And if Harrison does fall to the Giants at No. 6, as this simulation suggested would be the case, they cannot pass on him.

The Giants desperately need a No. 1 receiver. Harrison is widely thought to be a generational talent who should be able to help any quarterback the team decides to line up behind center.

Disclosure: North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye was still on the board at No. 6--he went to the Bears at No. 9 in the simulation. But there was no way I was passing on a receiver like Harrison, who I think can help the Giants right away more so than a rookie quarterback. (I'll explain why when I reveal the next pick).

TRADE! Las Vegas Raiders Offer a Gamble That's Hard to Refuse

You've heard me say it on the Locked On Giants podcast, and you've seen me write it several times. The Giants need as many draft assets as possible to give them flexibility to move around.

And while I doubt the Raiders would, in real life, give up the haul the simulator projected, the reason why I accepted the offer was because I felt pretty good about getting a quarterback five spots later.

R2, No. 44: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan (Grade A+)

Talk about things working out! Regardless of what the Giants do in free agency at quarterback, I still think it would behoove them to draft a quarterback. Lo and behold, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy was sitting atop the value board at Pick No. 44, making this a no-brainer for me.

McCarthy had the third-best completion percentage (72.1%) of all draftable quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks. He might have even had better numbers were it not for his receiving target dropping 20 passes this year, tied for 14th most among draft-eligible quarterbacks.

McCarthy would need some seasoning before he's ready to step in as a starter--any rookie quarterback drafted by the Giants would. That's probably why the team is insisting that Daniel Jones will get the start this year if healthy, to serve as a placeholder until a draft pick is ready.

R2, No. 47: SAF Tyler Nubin, Minnesota (Grade: B+)

As much as I'd like to see the Giants and Xavier McKinney work out a deal that keeps him in Giants blue, I just don't feel that is going to happen. Since versatile safeties seem to be a preference of new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's defense, Minnesota's Tyler Nubin appears to be an intriguing option. Nubin has experience as a box safety, free safety, and in the slot.

At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he's got good size to play run defense, an area in which he got better each year in college. While some draft boards have him as a late first-round prospect, if Nubin somehow slips to Day 2, the value would be hard to pass up.

R3, No. 70: DE/EDGE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon (Grade A)

I've been screaming for the Giants to add depth to their pass-rushing arsenal for at least two years.

Currently, the Giants have Kayvon Thibodeaux as their consistent force, capable of rushing the passer. Azeez Ojulari, whom the team envisioned pairing with Thiboeaux, hasn't been able to stay healthy for an entire season, not to mention in four more games played in 2023 versus what he played in 2022, his production wasn't that much better; in fact, dropping off in the sack department from 5.5 in 2022 to 2.5 in 2023.

While Dexter Lawrence can rush the passer, his production in that area took a bit of a hit when the team traded away Leonard Williams. Bottom line? The Giants need additional firepower to rush the passer.

Dorlus has a good blend of strength and athleticism and is versatile enough to play on the line and the edge. He posted 160 pressures in his college career with just 11 sacks and has a few moves to his growing pass-rush toolbox. His run defense has also been a strength of his college game, making him an intriguing prospect with plenty of room to grow.

R3, No. 77 IOL Christian Haynes, Connecticut (Grade B)

For those who were waiting for an offensive lineman in this draft, here you go. UConn's Christian Haynes played his entire career at right guard, one such position the Giants happen to need on their starting unit.

Haynes, who logged a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 98.3 while allowing 48 pressures and eight sacks, could potentially be a developmental candidate who could sit behind a veteran for a year.

While I think the Giants address the offensive line in this draft, I have long thought that the Giants will try to add a veteran to the unit to jump-start the group's readiness.

This season is a big one for Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. The offense has to hit the ground running, and I believe they need to add at least one veteran to the mix to make that happen; otherwise, it doesn't matter who's at quarterback, receiver, tight end, or running back.

Final Report Card

So that there is no questioning the grades the simulator assigns, here is the screenshot with the assigned grades. As noted, Picks 44 and 77 were acquired in a trade with the Raiders.

What do you think? Drop a comment and let me know!

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