The New York Giants are exactly two weeks away from being on the clock with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Mel Kiper of ESPN handed out his latest predictions.
In Kiper’s new two-round NFL mock draft, the Giants went the popular route of adding premier talent to the wide receiver position. However, they made a somewhat surprising move in the second round of the mock, trading up for a polarizing quarterback prospect.
When the Giants got on the clock at No. 6, four quarterbacks were already off the board after a projected trade between the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings, who took J.J. McCarthy at No. 5 overall.
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Giants land stud WR, trade up for QB in latest mock draft
Staying put for an elite wide receiver
With four quarterbacks and Marvin Harrison Jr. off the board at the time the Giants were on the clock, they made the sensible decision taking stud LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.
The Giants’ pass offense fell apart last season as they finished 30th in the league in yards per dropback (4.9). Sure, most of that was without quarterback Daniel Jones, but he struggled in his six games before his ACL injury too, throwing three times as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes. New York also ranked 30th in yards after the catch (1,601), which showed its need for outside playmakers.
Nabers could solve that problem, as he’s ferocious after the catch. He can run any route, creating separation on even the best cornerbacks. This is how the Giants could instantly turn around their offense.
The Giants haven’t had a true WR1 leading the offense since the Odell Beckham Jr. days. Nabers would change that immediately. He has the skill set to win at every level and the ability to transform an offense through the air.
A surprise trade for a QB
It’s no surprise the Giants are scouting the quarterback market. Daniel Jones is recovering from a torn ACL, and his chronic neck injury is worrisome. In Kiper’s mock draft, the Giants made another trade with the Carolina Panthers, moving up to the No. 33 overall pick.
While Kiper didn’t say what the Giants traded away to move up from No. 47, he had them selecting Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix started a whopping 61 college games in stints at Auburn and Oregon, throwing for 15,352 total yards. He leveled up in 2023, with 45 touchdown passes and three picks while completing 77.4% of his throws. The question for NFL teams: Do you trust he has enough arm strength to succeed? He was asked to get the ball out quickly and around the line of scrimmage for the Ducks, putting his receivers in a position to make plays after the catch. That’s why I have a Round 2 grade on him. There likely will be a team that falls in love with Nix in this range; why can’t it be the Giants?
Surprised? Maybe we shouldn’t be. Daniel Jones is locked in as the Giants’ starter in 2024, but the team could part ways with him next offseason, when his guaranteed money drops. And if general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll are down on Jones after a tough 2023 that ended with a torn ACL in November, now is the time to start thinking ahead at the position.
With Drew Lock also on the roster, it would be a surprise to see the Giants move up for Nix. He’s an older prospect with a seemingly limited ceiling as a starter. The Giants would likely be better off addressing other needs in the second round such as the secondary or offensive line depth.
