Welcome to our final Giants mock draft of the year before Big Blue is on the clock at No. 6 overall on Thursday night in Detroit.
General manager Joe Schoen has a multitude of options to consider at the 2024 NFL Draft, which further confirms just how many holes must be filled along the roster before a legitimate contender is built.
Saquon Barkley is gone and Daniel Jones’ future with the Giants remains uncertain. The possibility of trading up into the top four or five still exists to take one of the marquee quarterbacks of the draft, but given the amount of needs that must be addressed, parting with additional draft capital could prove foolhardy.
Here is what we have come up with:
2024 New York Giants Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 6: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and New England Patriots are all going to take a quarterback. That takes USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels off the board. The Minnesota Vikings, who currently hold the No. 11 pick, are also more motivated to trade up and nab a passer after losing Kirk Cousins to free agency. That likely takes Michigan’s JJ McCarthy off the board, too. For at least one more night, that makes Jones the No. 1 quarterback, and a legitimate, No. 1 outside threat of a wide receiver is needed to surround him with as much talent as possible. Nabers is the no-brainer play here with the Arizona Cardinals likely to take Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4.
Round 2, Pick 47: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The drama surrounding Jones heats up on Day 2, however, The Giants brought in Nix for a visit earlier this month and at least appear intrigued by the Heisman Trophy finalist. The Oregon QB completed 77.4% of his passes for 4,509 yards, 45 touchdowns, and three interceptions in his fifth year of college football. He looks like the kind of prospect Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll like: he can throw on the run, get the ball out of his hands quickly, and extend the play with his legs. The problem is the arm strength. Almost 30% of his passes last year were behind the line of scrimmage. His game has to be developed to throw the ball downfield more.
Round 3, Pick 70: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
The Giants need to bring on some depth at the cornerback position behind Deonte Banks, who showed flashes of developing into a legitimate CB1 last season. Metlon, a local Rutgers product, excels in outside coverage thanks to an ability to read the opposing quarterback with the tenacity to beat the opposing receiver to the football.
Round 4, Pick 107: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
While Darren Waller is mulling retirement, the Giants have to be proactive and grab a tight end as a security blanket. At 6-foot-6, 259 pounds, Johnson is a bruising, versatile tight end that can secure the football in traffic and chip in on run-blocking. He worked well with Giants passing-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney at the Senior Bowl earlier this year.
Round 5, Pick 166: James Williams, S, Miami (FL)
The safety spot is another position where the Giants could use some added depth and the versatility of Williams could pique the interest of Schoen and Daboll. The 6-foot-4, 231-pound prospect has the explosive capabilities to play as a safety or a nickel linebacker. He is a big hitter and has the speed to shut down the opposition’s tight end, but his run-game recognition needs work.
Round 6, Pick 183: Pheldarius Payne, DT, Virginia Tech
Payne has been a player the Giants have kept an eye on as another depth option behind Dexter Lawrence to shore up the interior defensive line. This is not your traditional run-stopping tackle. Payne can rush the passer and ran a 4.85 40-yard dash at the combine. This is an athletic prospect who could flourish working alongside Lawrence.
