How Low in Draft Order Would Giants Need to Go to Draft a WR1?

Could the New York Giants end up finding a WR1 outside of the top 10? Brandon Olsen takes a look at the scenarios.

There are few things that NFL fanbases can unanimously agree on, but one of those things is that the New York Giants need to get better weapons in the wide receiver room. The issue for the Giants isn’t that there are no good receivers in the room; it’s that they have an overabundance of second and third options but haven’t had a true WR1 since Odell Beckham Jr.

With the sixth pick in a draft where there are multiple quarterbacks expected to go in the top five, multiple teams needing an offensive tackle, and a strong top-of-the-edge rusher class, the Giants are in a unique spot to stick and pick or trade down slightly then still take a wide receiver. There are three receivers that I would classify as bonafide “We’re drafting him to be our WR1” picks with two more that fall in the “WR2 floor, WR1 ceiling” category.

On our Giants Country Big Board, the bonafide WR1s are Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers, and Washington's Rome Odunze. Harrison is the technician who can separate from any defender he’s faced. Nabers is the explosive deep threat. Odunze is an athletic jump-ball receiver who’s mastered the art of high-pointing passes. NFL teams at the top of the draft will get to choose their flavor of receiver.

The Giants would have to approach the draft on a pick-by-pick basis if they were looking to trade down and still land a top receiver. It’s fairly safe to assume that three, maybe even four, quarterbacks will go in the top five, depending on whether a team like the Vikings trades up with the Cardinals or Chargers. The Cardinals and Chargers could also use help at receiver, so if they make their selections, the board could thin.

If both teams take receivers before the Giants, then the trade-down possibility might be taken off the table to avoid the risk of the Titans or Bears taking a receiver. Specifically, if the Chargers take an offensive tackle at fifth overall, the Giants might be able to convince the Titans of a one-spot trade. The theory here is that the Titans then would be able to draft an offensive tackle while also ensuring that the Giants don’t trade down with another team in the market for an offensive tackle.

If the Cardinals or Chargers trade with the Vikings, the Giants would need to make sure they stay in front of that team at 11 to still be in range for the big three at receiver. Perhaps the Bears could be a trade-down choice if the Bears want to make sure they get to pick an edge rusher before the Falcons do. 

It’s possible that the Giants are fine with one of their “WR2 floor, WR1 ceiling” players, like Brian Thomas Jr. or Adonai Mitchell. If that were the case, the Giants could look for multiple trade-down partners or be an option for a tackle-needy team like the Saints to move up. 

In any scenario, the Giants will likely need to remain in the top ten to secure one of Harrison Jr., Nabers, or Odunze and in the top 18 to pick Thomas or Mitchell. 

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