There’s a reason why they’re called “mock drafts,” and a part of it is that how draft analysts and simulators see things falling for the actual draft very rarely comes close to the real thing, so much so that it is laughable.
But still, they’re fun to do, and with player stock reports set to rise and fall over the coming weeks, I’ve decided to unveil a three-round New York Giants mock draft of which I suspect if part of it played out, the team’s brass would probably pass out in shock.
Using Pro Football Focus’s mock draft simulator, I tried to marry needs with the best available.
You know the drill–mock away!
R1, No. 6: WR Marvin Harrison, Jr, Ohio State
The odds of Harrison falling to the Giants at No. 6 are likely slim to none, but with the top three quarterbacks off the board and Malik Nabers gone as well, this was a no-brainer.
The 6-foor-4, 205-pounder has been mentioned in the same sentence as “generational talent” by many draft analysts. If he is indeed a potential WR1, just think of how much better the Giants receiving corps, which last year leaned on tight end Darren Waller to be its de facto No. 1 receiver, will be for whoever the quarterback is.
PFF apparently agrees, giving the pick an A+ grade, even though it’s likely a dream scenario with a very slim chance of happening.
R2, No. 39: Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
I went best available here, getting a B grade from the PFF simulator for my pick of Penn State’s Chop Robinson (I love the name, by the way). I believe that if the Giants make a splash in free agency, it will be for a veteran offensive lineman (Mike Onwenu of the Patriots would be another dream scenario, given his guard/tackle versatility).
They could also look to add a veteran edge rusher to help Kayvon Thibodeaux soar to new heights, but I think it makes more sense to spend on the offensive line and backup quarterback (spoiler alert: that doesn’t mean I passed on a quarterback in this draft, as you’ll see shortly.)
But let’s get back to the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Robinson. On tape, he has an explosive first step and functional strength, and yes, he can even drop into coverage to defend some of the shorter routes.
As is usually the case with young pass rushers, he needs more refinement against the run. He can probably use a few more moves in his pass-rushing toolbox and add more strength. Still, he’s versatile enough to play as a defensive end or a standup linebacker, which the Giants can use on their defense moving forward.
R2, No. 47: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
The simulator graded this as an A-, probably due to the value. Again, the top quarterbacks were off the board in the first round, and I just don’t think the Giants will trade up to get a quarterback. At this pick, it came down to McCarthy or Spencer Rattler of South Carolina, the Senior Bowl MVP.
McCarthy is the fifth-best quarterback on NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 draft prospect rankings, and he favorably compared to Alex Smith when Smith came out of college.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen continues to insist that Daniel Jones, once healthy, is expected to be the starter in 2024. Given Jones’s contract, which makes it impossible to cut or even move him at this point, that comes as no surprise. But even Schoen can’t ignore Jones’s injury history, especially with the neck issues, and that he’s probably one more neck injury away from having to retire.
That’s why I think the Giants will go free agency and draft for this position. If Jones isn’t ready or gets hurt again, they need someone experienced to step in–and for some reason, I don’t get the sense that someone will be Tommy DeVito. Meanwhile, in having a rookie on board, if the decision ends up being made to move on from Jones after this year, they will have had a rookie in development ready to take over.
As for McCarthy, he’s tied for third (with three others) with the fewest interceptions thrown last season (four) among draft-eligible quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks. Interestingly, his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, who is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, predicted on The Rich Eisen Show that McCarthy could be the first quarterback off the board in April.
“When people see him throw in person when they watch him run, they see the athleticism, when they do the interviews, and they start digging into how this young man is wired, and he’s only 21. Mark my words, don’t be surprised when he’s maybe the No. 1 quarterback off the board,” Harbaugh said.
If McCarthy is thought of that highly among the rest of the NFL community, if he falls into this spot, the value would be too good to pass up.
R3, No. 70: S Sione Vaki, Utah
I still believe that Xavier McKinney will depart via free agency and that Dane Belton will be high in the mix to replace him. I also believe the Giants will need depth at running back, regardless of what happens with Saquon Barkley.
Vaki, a pick that earned a B+ via the simulator, can deliver both. Vaki finished his career as a running back with 42 carries for 317 yards and two touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns.
As a defensive back, he recorded 92 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, two sacks, and an interception en route to a First-Team All-Pac 12 honor in 2023.
Vaki is probably more of a Day 3 type of pick, but I thought the value here was too good to pass up. As mentioned, I believe the Giants will go the veteran free agency route to add to the offensive line after seeing how veteran Justin Pugh helped calm that unit down last year. Yet, while I think the offensive line is certainly a position that will be addressed in this Giants draft class, I think it might be more of a Day 3 pick.
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