New York Giants Day 2 Draft Haul the Very Definition of Value

Coming into the 2023 NFL Draft, there were three positions on the New York Giants that most agreed needed to be addressed early: cornerback, center, and wide receiver.

On Day 1, after a massive run on receivers happened right in front of them, and three of the top cornerbacks were already gone, the Giants wanted to make sure they did not miss out on an elite talent at one of the positions.

So general manager Joe Schoen, who in his short time on the job has shown he's not afraid to be aggressive in going after what he wants, moved up one spot from 25 to 24 to select cornerback Deonte Banks from Maryland. The move cost the Giants a fifth- and seventh-round pick, but they clearly felt like they could no longer wait.

Day 2 had a similar feeling as the Giants prepared to make their second and third-round selections, one of which they ended up trading up the board to secure. Let's break down the move and grade the value based on how and where the players were drafted.

R2, No. 57: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

Grade: A

Schmitz was widely regarded as the best center prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. He could have easily been taken in the latter half of the first round, so he became an extremely valuable pickup when he was taken later in the second round.

Schmitz was not the first center taken--that honor went to Joe Tippmann, the 6-foot-6 behemoth from Wisconsin whom the Jets selected with Pick No. 43. But for the Giants, having the consensus number one prospect at a position of need fall into your lap on Day 2 of the draft warrants a high grade in terms of value.

Last season, the Giants had a hole in the middle of the offensive line. It was not a matter of heart or effort; rather, it was more the inability to keep the middle of the line from collapsing via the bull rush.

Both Joe Feliciano and Nick Gates struggled to anchor down when defenders just looked to push them into the backfield in the run or pass game. The Giants expect Schmitz to be able to stand his ground against those types of defensive line tactics.

He should be able to drop his hips and anchor down when nose guards are trying to bully him. In the run game, his ability to get on defenders quickly will be valuable in the zone and gap scheme attacks that the Giants employ.

It is strange to say that a rookie has veteran savvy without having seen him play a single NFL snap, but that is exactly what the team hopes he brings based on the amount of football he has played at the position.

R3, No. 73: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

Grade: A

In the draft, some people thought Jalin Hyatt was worthy of a first-round selection. Then others thought he was more of a mid-second-round selection whose likely draft range would be between picks 40-45.

But probably very few, if any, thought Hyatt would still be on the board at pick 73, which was in the third round. So for the Giants to snatch him up at that spot--they made a trade with the Rams to ensure they got him--is the very definition of getting a solid value pick.

Yes, they had to give up their fourth-round draft pick to make it happen. Still, ultimately, a major position of need was filled, adding more explosiveness to an offensive unit that was already beginning to look explosive.

Regarding Hyatt's deployment, the speedster could be used in two different ways but for the same purpose. Head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka can split Hyatt out wide as a "Z" receiver off the ball.

His ability to stretch the field from the outside will produce wide-open passing lanes underneath, thanks to cornerbacks that make it top priority to stay over top or have a safety roll coverage to his side which should open up man situations on fade balls and post routes.

Hyatt can either pull the defenders from an area so that others can have the advantage, or when others pull coverage, Hyatt could be a threat underneath. He could also line up in the slot and blow the top off a defense that allows others to work underneath.

There were so many directions that Schoen and company could have gone in the first two days, but nobody can be upset about the talent they were able to add in the first three rounds.

It will be interesting to see if they deal themselves back into round four--Schoen indicated that was probably unlikely since they've used up most if not all of their premium picks--but it will be fun to see what they do on Day 3.

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