With 11 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Giants are in a great position to add young talent to a team that just won a playoff game. In this mock draft, there is a family reunion in the Big Apple as the Giants use a first-rounder to bolster the defensive front.
The future looks bright for the four-time Super Bowl champion, New York Giants. After a relatively successful 2022 season, NY now has the reigning Coach of the Year, Brian Daboll, and a roster that looks pretty good on paper.
That being said, a few dud spots on the roster need to be addressed. Luckily, the front office has 11 draft picks and a good cap situation (before the inevitable Daniel Jones extension/Saquon Barkley franchise tag).
New York Giants Mock Draft: Ojulari Party in the Big Apple
Brothers BJ and Azeez Ojulari are reunited in the NFL! When the Giants pick came up, and I looked at team needs, there was no way I could pass on this pairing. Not only was BJ the best pass rusher on the board, but this would also be one of the biggest stories from day one of the 2023 NFL Draft. So naturally, the NFL media would gobble this up like a Turkey on Thanksgiving.
The best part is the fit works well. The Giants should seek a formidable edge rusher to pair with Leonard Williams in the 3-4 system. BJ Ojulari is agile and intuitive. His speed allows him to rundown offensive players in pursuit easily. However, he must add more weight to play inside and not get overpowered.
BJ and Azeez Ojulari would be a problematic duo to deal with alone. Add Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Leonard Williams, and you are on your way to having one of the scariest defensive fronts in the NFL.
While Andrew Thomas has developed into one of the league’s premier left tackles, the rest of the Giants’ line could be better. They struggled to create space in the A-gap, forcing Saquon Barkley to cut most of his runs toward the outside. Luke Wypler is someone the Giants could take who could instantly help with this problem.
Wypler is an all-around center, equally as good of a pass blocker as a run blocker. He is an intelligent player who uses his hands well. He also has elite lateral quickness that is unmatched by the other interior line prospects in the draft. Wypler’s only negative is that he isn’t a physical specimen. He won’t beat you with his strength or wingspan.
Fixing the interior is crucial for the Giants to see success in 2023. Luke Wypler is a step in the right direction on day two of this mock draft.
With a healthy Adoree Jackson and Fabian Moreau, the Giants’ secondary is much better than people think. However, the drop after those two is significant. Darnay Holmes could have done better in his opportunity to take over the slot position after the departure of James Bradbury lV.
At only 5-foot-8, THT is way too small to play on the outside at the NFL level. However, he can make an impact in the slot. What THT is lacking in height, he isn’t lacking in experience or talent. THT gave up a 56.3 QBR on ~2,500 snaps while at TCU. The best ability is availability.
THT gives Wink Martindale breathing room and depth at the cornerback position. It will also lead to a fun training camp competition that should bring out the best THT has to offer.
With the century pick, the Giants make Daniel Jones happy by adding another weapon. Daniel Bellinger couldn’t break out for the Giants in the way they had hoped. Sam LaPorta is a true receiving tight end and has the potential to impact the receiving game in the way Daniel Bellinger was supposed to.
LaPorta has a larger route tree than a lot of the wide receivers in this draft class. He has elite hands and is excellent at taking advantage of being matched against linebackers. In addition, LaPorta is an athletically built prospect, allowing him to thrive after the catch. LaPorta’s big drawback is his blocking ability, which Brian Daboll and the Giants staff could coach up.
LaPorta has the chance to immediately impact this Giants offense, being used similarly to how Daboll used Dawson Knox in Buffalo.
Dorian Williams is another much-needed piece to this Giants’ front seven. Jaylon Smith and Michael McFadden aren’t the long-term solutions for the Giants at linebacker. While I expect them to add someone in free agency, Williams gives them a formidable young talent that could immediately start for the G-Men.
Dorian Williams is one of the most athletic linebackers in the draft. He is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker which helps him make key plays in pursuit. However, despite his athletic ability, he is a raw prospect that will need a lot of quality coaching to reach the next level of development.
Dorian Williams stands out in a weak linebacker class as a potential solution for the Giants’ struggles at the position.
As of this mock draft, Saquon Barkley has yet to be resigned by the Giants. I anticipate him returning to the Giants for the 2023 season. With that in mind, the Giants need more behind Barkley. Should the deal get done, Eric Gray would be a great backup to Barkley.
Gray is a violent runner who doesn’t shy away from contact. He is the type of runner who will lower his pads and not care who is in his way. While he works well in the screen game, he fails to create separation in other receiving situations. Should the Giants bring back Matt Breida or another receiving focused back, that wouldn’t be an issue.
Eric Gray is a great mid-round solution to the Giants’ lack of depth, and if Saquon does find a new home, Gray could be a quality lead back for the G-Men.
The Giants have the most mediocre wide receiver room in the NFL. While no one they have on the roster is particularly bad, they don’t have an actual No. 1 threat. Andrei Iosivas does nothing to help solve that problem. What Iosivas does do is give the Giants a pass catcher who could stretch the field as one the premier deep threats in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Iosivas has blazing speed and should be able to run by most NFL cornerbacks with ease. He has a quick release and acceleration that gets him off the line of scrimmage quicker than most receivers. Despite that, Iosivas does have trouble getting off of the press, which could lead to him getting jammed at the line of scrimmage.
While Iosivas most likely wont be the elite No. 1 option the Giants need, he is still an eclectic player who can help his fellow targets get open and have a few big-time plays up his sleeve.
One of the most successful college quarterbacks ever goes in the sixth round to one of the best fits he could ask for. Daniel Jones just inked a long-term extension, so the Georgia signal-caller would have little pressure entering the league.
Stetson Bennet would be a perfect addition to that quarterback room as a 25-year-old that can immediately compete for the QB2 spot.
As mentioned earlier, Stetson Bennett had a fantastic college career. The two-time national champion has the potential to be one of the best backups the league has to offer. Bennett Is a true leader and plays with confidence and swag. He has a decent arm and underated mobility. Should something happen to the man in front of him, Bennett will fit in well to Coach Daboll’s system
Caleb Murphy is an end of draft addition that could potentially see some playing time in 2023. Especially if the Giants experience any significant injuries to the interior of the offensive line. Murphy is mechanically all there and has the size to play anywhere on the offensive line.
Earlier, I mentioned how the Giants need some depth at running back. Ibrahim is another solid runner who could fill some depth for the Giants and potentially have a much more significant role for the team if he can stay on the field.
With their final selection, the Giants go with another rangy fast linebacker. Carlton Martial adds depth to the inside linebacker position the New York Football Giants so desperately need.