For many, the first season under Brian Daboll was a success for the New York Giants, but their playoff capitulation against the Philadelphia Eagles revealed plenty of work still to do. This Giants NFL Mock Draft gets straight down to business as attention in the Big Apple turns to the 2023 NFL Draft.
In this scenario, simulated trades were active among other teams via the Mock Draft Simulator, but the Giants held steady and did not make any moves.
Latest New York Giants 2023 NFL Mock Draft
WR Rashee Rice, SMU | Round 1, Pick 25
The Giants have several high-profile potential free agents that could ultimately shape the direction they take in the 2023 NFL Draft. Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones are the headliners, but there are multiple starters not guaranteed to play in New York next season.
Right now, however, wide receiver projects to be the biggest need, with no pass catcher over 750 yards this year and Barkley the most targeted pass catcher on the team this year. This Giants mock draft gives Big Blue a big threat in the passing game.
At 6’2″, 203 pounds, SMU WR Rashee Rice has the size to play outside at the NFL level, with several eye-popping grabs on the boundary during his college football career. Rice also has the speed and elusiveness to add yardage after the catch and creates easy separation with twitchy, deceitful movement.
C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota | Round 2, Pick 57
Creed Humphrey and Tyler Linderbaum have shown what acquiring a high-level rookie center can do for your offensive line. And with Jon Feliciano hitting free agency, there’s every chance that there’s a new man snapping the ball in New York in 2023.
MORE: John Michael Schmitz Is the Top Interior Lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft
There’s also every chance that Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz is the first center off the board in April. Schmitz is a bully with exceptional physicality but also boasts the football IQ and technical excellence to manipulate in the trenches. Meanwhile, his athleticism relative to his 6’4″, 320-pound mass makes him a dangerous blocker on the move.
CB Deonte Banks, Maryland | Round 3, Pick 89
As an ascending cornerback prospect, Deonte Banks may be a pipe dream in Round 3. However, in this Giants NFL Mock Draft, the Maryland CB is still on the board giving New York a game-changer at a position of need.
At 6’2″, 205 pounds, Banks has the size and length to be a disruptor at the catch point while boasting smooth athleticism and reliable tackling ability.
RB Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh | Round 3, Pick 100
Barkley wants to remain with the Giants, and after the most productive season of his career (by five yards), there should be mutual interest in keeping him around. Even if they do, that shouldn’t preclude New York from adding another back to their rotation in the 2023 NFL Draft.
MORE: Will the Giants Re-Sign Saquon Barkley?
Pitt’s Israel Abanikanda gives New York an explosive rushing threat in this Giants mock draft. Abanikanda’s burst and long speed allow him to create yardage for fun, while his 5’11”, 215-pound frame was built for absorbing contact. Although not a high-volume receiver for the Panthers, he’s shown pass-catching ability during his college career that should translate to the NFL.
LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State | Round 4, Pick 126
The Giants have drafted multiple linebackers in recent years, but the position still sits near the top of their needs. While potentially considered undersized at 6’1″, 220-pound, Washington State LB Daiyan Henley is an explosive downhill threat who hits with dangerous force. Henley also has the ball skills and fluidity of movement to be an impactful coverage player at the NFL level.
TE Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion | Round 5, Pick 158
Although Daniel Bellinger had a decent rookie campaign, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Giants add further pieces to the tight end room in April. Zack Kuntz is a pass-catching behemoth at 6’8″, 245 pounds, with an excellent catch radius.
The Old Dominion TE also boasts surprising athletic ability while adding competitive toughness and technical nuance as a run blocker.
WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Fresno State | Round 6, Pick 195
Having secured a WR1 in this Giants NFL Mock Draft, Big Blue further bolsters their WR room in the sixth round. Fresno State WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper is coming off a career campaign where he frequently showed his ability to win with route running, excellent body control, and strong hands at the catch point. He’s also an exceptional athlete with usage versatility.
LB Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech | Round 7, Pick 219
At 6’2″, 207 pounds, this Giants NFL Mock Draft adds another undersized linebacker in Georgia Tech standout Charlie Thomas. What Thomas lacks in size, however, he makes up for with physicality combined with ferocious energy. He’s not just fly in and hope for the best, though. Thomas’ use of recognition and timing makes him a force in all phases of defense.
QB Tyson Bagent, Shepherd | Round 7, Pick 222
Jones described discussions about his contract as “positive,” and there’s very much a feeling that the former first-rounder will be back next year. But that shouldn’t stop the Giants from evaluating potential long-term replacements, and there might not be a more interesting evaluation than Shepherd QB Tyson Bagent.
No quarterback has thrown more touchdowns in NCAA history than the former West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year. At 6’3″, 215 pounds, Bagent has the prototypical NFL pocket-passer size but also enough mobility to escape when the play breaks down.
The 2021 Harlon Hill Award winner can throw from multiple arm angles with the velocity and arm strength to trouble the deep third and hit the sideline from the far hash. The Senior Bowl should solidify the Shepherd QB as a genuine prospect.