The New York Giants put themselves in a power position in this draft when the Dexter Lawrence trade got them a second pick in the top 10. It’s a familiar position, too, since this will be the second time in five years that the Giants have two top 10 picks.
This time, they just have to do better than they did when they took tackle Evan Neal (No. 7) and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5) in 2022.
So what will the Giants do with the first picks of the John Harbaugh era? And can they find a suitable replacement for Lawrence with an early pick? Here’s one look at how the first four rounds might go for them:
Round 1 (No. 5 overall): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
One of Harbaugh’s top priorities was fixing the second-worst run defense in the NFL, and now he’s got a 340-pound (or more) hole to fill in the middle of it. He can’t fill all of it, but adding the athletic, speedy Sonny Styles up the middle would be a great way to start.
The 6-foot-5, 244-pounder, who would be the first linebacker taken in the first round by the Giants since Carl Banks in 1984, would slide right in next to new addition Tremaine Edmunds, making a weakness into a sudden strength. He’s a sure tackler with good instincts and strong coverage skills (he’s a former safety). And he’d be the Giants’ best sideline-to-sideline pursuit linebacker since Antonio Pierce.
Sonny Styles and Omar Cooper in Joel Klatt’s NFL Draft risers
Styles is a player of high character, too, and is considered future captain material, which will be huge as Harbaugh tries to rebuild a decaying culture. He almost certainly won’t last until 10 (the Commanders are eying him at pick No. 7 and the Cowboys might try to move up for him), so if Harbaugh wants him, 5 is the spot.
Round 1 (No. 10 overall): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Giants already have a star-in-the-making in Malik Nabers, when he’s healthy, but it’s the No. 2 receiver that can really turn an offense into one that’s dynamic. And Jordyn Tyson would be the perfect complement — a strong, quick, 6-2, 203-pounder who can make the tough catches and draw the defense away from Nabers.
Tyson does have a very long injury history, though, which is why it’s hard to get a read on his evaluation. An NFL scout told me he was the most underrated player in the draft and that he’s “going to have a lot of 1,000-yard seasons in the league if he stays healthy.” It’s that “if,” though, that makes his valuation difficult. It’s why a few weeks ago, he was considered a mid-first pick, then suddenly looked like he might go in the top-five, and now he’s dropping again (at least in media mocks).
Jordyn Tyson in Joel Klatt’s final mock draft
Giants general manager Joe Schoen spent a lot of time with him in Arizona, including a post-pro day dinner. That could be a tell. There’s no doubt they’d like to get a second weapon for quarterback Jaxson Dart and a little insurance in case it takes Nabers, who is recovering from a torn ACL, some time to regain his form.
[NFL Confidential: How is Dexter Lawrence Trade Impacting Draft? Execs, Scouts Weigh in]
Spherical 2 (No. 37 total): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
They’ll’t go too lengthy with out attempting to plug the Lawrence-sized gap straight, even when they do have a bunch of NFL veterans able to step in at defensive sort out for now. They want some youth at that place too, which is why it looks like a lock they’ll take the highest sort out on their board early within the second spherical.
Kayden McDonald had three sacks and two pressured fumbles for Ohio State this previous season. (Photograph by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
This 6-2, 326-pounder must be the highest defensive sort out on everybody’s board, although there are sufficient issues to probably drop him out of the primary spherical. He’s a powerful run defender, however hasn’t developed but as a go rusher. As a one-year starter, he additionally has restricted expertise. However the Giants would have sufficient round him to provide him restricted snaps in a rotation and let him develop from there.
He may go late within the first spherical if a staff wants a defensive sort out sufficient. And if not, it’s doable somebody will attempt to soar above the Giants for him early on Day 2. If that occurs, regulate Georgia’s Christen Miller (6-3, 328), or possibly Florida’s Caleb Banks (6-6, 327) in the event that they’re satisfied his damaged foot will likely be OK.
Spherical 4 (No. 105 total): Jude Bowry, OT, Boston School
For the second, the Giants are fairly set at sort out with Andrew Thomas on the left and Jermaine Eluemunor on the fitting. However Eluemunor is 31 and Thomas missed 22 video games with accidents during the last three years. The Giants have veteran depth, however they’re missing in younger gamers to develop, exterior of possibly Marcus Mbow, their fifth-rounder final yr.
Boston School offensive sort out Jude Bowry did not permit a sack this previous season, per Professional Soccer Focus. (Photograph by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
The 6-5, 314-pound Bowry was primarily a left sort out in faculty, however he’s nonetheless uncooked and has sufficient blocking energy that he may transfer inside to protect, the place the Giants have even much less younger depth. He was additionally a staff captain for Invoice O’Brien’s Eagles. And though the Giants’ regime has undergone some adjustments, their Boston School ties nonetheless run fairly deep.
