Giants Mock Draft: New York sells the farm for USC QB Caleb Williams
By Hunter Haas
The New York Giants are amongst the most disappointing teams in the entire NFL. Entering the 2023 campaign fresh off a postseason berth, the G-Men were considered a legitimate playoff threat in the NFC East. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case at the midway point of the season. In today’s mock draft, the Giants make a bold move to turn the page at quarterback.
The Daniel Jones Era Is On Life Support
Daniel Jones, even with an anchor of a contract, is clearly not the answer. Sure, the entire roster has regressed around him, but let’s call a spade a spade — Danny Dimes hasn’t played well in any facet. It’s also worth mentioning his injury history -- a list that continues to grow with each passing day.
Head coach Brian Daboll turned water into wine in his debut showing with the Giants. However, the miraculous run came to a screeching halt in Year 2. The team stumbled out the gate, and thanks to injuries across the depth chart, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. At least, not until the 2024 NFL Draft.
If the season ended today, New York would sit at No. 3 overall in the draft order. A chance to climb further up the ranks is still within reach. But right now, the Giants would likely have to trade up at least one spot to secure one of the top two quarterbacks available: Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
Will general manager Joe Schoen do whatever it takes to land one of Williams or Maye? Or could he stand pat, select the best player available regardless of position, and give Jones one more shot as QB1 in the Big Apple? In our latest Giants mock draft, Schoen takes the aggressive approach.
A Shocking Trade Up For Superstar QB Caleb Williams Takes Place In This Giants Mock Draft
In order to jump from No. 3 to No. 1 and have the ability to select any player available, the team must pay a hefty toll. Even if it’s just a two-spot difference, the front office will surely find itself in a heated battle with nearly half a dozen other teams. A 2025 first-round pick, the second-rounder (No. 58 overall) acquired in the Leonard Williams trade, plus another Day 1 pick in 2026 sounds about right.
I’ll let you decide if that move is a worthwhile trade. One thing is certain, though — the fan base deserves some promise at the quarterback position. If that means pushing all chips to the center of the table, so be it. That is exactly what the Giants do in this mock draft. Now, a path has been cleared for the next organizational cornerstone…
Round 1, Pick 1 — Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Giants have not been shy about their interest in Caleb Williams. Daniel Jones may have struck gold with a lucrative contract last offseason, as New York is tied to him until at least 2025. However, no amount of dead cap will save Jones from being replaced this offseason.
Williams has cemented himself as a top-tier prospect despite his struggles lately. His arm talent is absurd, flexing the ability to fit impossible windows and the creativity outside of structure to accumulate yardage from nothing. A trade-up will cost a pretty penny, but it’s worth it by pairing Williams with head coach Brian Daboll.
Round 2, Pick 36 — Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Giants cannot throw Caleb Williams into the fire and expect him not to burn. To save the young signal-caller from flaming out, the offensive line must improve. And it must improve immediately. Andrew Thomas is a bonafide superstar at left tackle, but the rest of the unit leaves much to be desired.
We’ll give Evan Neal the benefit of the doubt and allow him to stick at right tackle in 2024. As for the center position, John Michael Schmitz boasts a Pro Bowl upside. But the guard spots? You could find several better starting tandems at the collegiate level. Harsh, but true nonetheless.
Cooper Beebe is the epitome of a plug-and-play option in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has experience at every position besides center, giving the Giants a starting guard and injury replacement at tackle all in one fell swoop. Beebe displays a strong motor, polished technique, and deceptive athleticism in space. The Kansas State product is an instant starter on Sundays.
Round 3, Pick 67 — Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The defense is better than the numbers indicate, but upgrading the secondary should be a priority for New York. Deonte Banks looks like a solid contributor going forward so that checks the box on one side of the field. However, veteran Adoree’ Jackson is nearing the end of his tenure with the Giants.
At the beginning of Round 3, the chance to add Terrion Arnold to the positional group is exactly what the doctor ordered. The Alabama standout has put together the best season of his career in 2023. Flexing shutdown traits on the boundary, Arnold would provide Banks with the ideal partner-in-crime.