[brid autoplay=”true” video=”759643″ player=”23231″ title=”3%20ideal%20New%20York%20Giants%202021%20NFL%20Draft%20trade%20scenarios” duration=”108″ description=”Here are three ideal scenarios from The Draft Network mock simulations in which the Giants could trade down in the first round and still walk away with an excellent incoming rookie class. We’ll also make mock picks from the result of the trades, including the picks New York acquired and its own selections.” uploaddate=”2021-04-20″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/759643_t_1618941312.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/759643.mp4″]
Following a rather aggressive free agency spending effort, this final seven-round New York Giants mock draft gives the team the luxury of plugging some notable holes and also finding great depth.
General manager Dave Gettleman didn’t shy away from spending despite the tighter NFL salary cap, acquiring a No. 1 receiver in Kenny Golladay and a legitimate starting cornerback opposite James Bradberry in Adoree’ Jackson.
This means New York has added flexibility entering the 2021 NFL Draft and could mean Gettleman winds up taking the best player available as opposed to reaching more so for a need.
Check out our latest, best bets as to what the Giants will do as the draft unfolds, using a mock simulation from The Draft Network as our guide.
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New York Giants mock draft: Two big-school prospects, sharp riser headline early rounds
- First round, 11th pick: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
- Second round, 42nd pick: Quinn Meinerz, iOL, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Third round, 76th pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
Azeez Ojulari should be the target at No. 11, and if Gettleman trades down in the first round for the first time in his career, there’s a strong chance the Georgia pass-rusher will still be on the board in the top 20. It’s not the best group of edge defenders coming out in 2021, and Ojulari’s evaluation is somewhat complicated by the fact that he played with two future NFL corners in Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell.
Regardless of all that, Ojulari is the bendiest, quickest and most explosive pass-rusher among those who are worthy of going in Round 1. Jaelan Phillips may have superior size and upside, yet he has serious medical red flags that’ll probably scare the Giants off to pick him so high.
Just look at how gravity-defying some of Ojulari’s rushing snaps can be — and how easily he can play in space against the run.
For the Giants’ personnel as it stands, they have plenty of bigger edge defenders. Ojulari presents an intriguing change-up to their lineup as a lighter, more dynamic option in terms of converting speed to power and applying pressure in a unique way.
Moving on from there, we have a quickly-rising second-round pick who may complete one of the most incredible meteoric rises in recent draft history. To start off Day 2, we have the G-Men landing Quinn Meinerz.
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The small-school prospect is soaring up draft boards, and would likely be an instant starter at center or guard on the interior offensive line. Meinerz would be a huge upgrade in an area the Giants must bolster to protect QB Daniel Jones and run block better for Saquon Barkley.
In the third round, New York finds Jones another pass-catching weapon in Amon-Ra St. Brown out of USC. St. Brown can play outside but is also a big slot type who’d be a nice complement to Golladay and outside burner Darius Slayton.
While receiver isn’t the team’s biggest position of need, any help Jones can get is a plus. Bear in mind also that Sterling Shepard could be a cap casualty in 2022, and John Ross is hardly a sure thing to even make the Giants’ final roster.
Read More: New York Giants ‘leaning towards’ specific position with No. 11 pick, potential targets
New York Giants mock draft: Day 3 picks to bolster roster depth
- Fourth round, 116th pick: Alim McNeill, iDL, NC State
- Sixth round, 196th pick: Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas
- Sixth round, 201st pick: Camryn Bynum, CB, California
I think I’m going to have to agree to disagree with some of The Draft Network’s scouting reports and evaluations, because McNeill has absolutely no business still being on the board this late in the draft.
McNeill is uncommonly quick off the ball for his size at 320-some-odd pounds, and if you were to put him up front in the Big Apple with Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence, things could get really scary for anyone trying to block the Giants in the NFC East.
By the time the sixth round rolls around, it’s more blind luck and cautious optimism than actually hoping any of these picks bear any fruit. However, inevitably it happens every year, and Gettleman has two cracks at this round.
Unless Ross ends up shedding his first-round bust label, it’s not like the Giants have a legitimate, speedy slot man on the roster. Darden fits that description and could also provide a spark as a punt returner.
Finally, California’s Camryn Bynum was a four-year starter for the Golden Bears and has the skill set to be an effective outside corner in the NFL. Experience may count against him and his draft stock, but he’s not a bad development option at all, especially if New York’s Adoree’ Jackson signing doesn’t work out.
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