McShay has G-Men trading down to No. 15 in mock draft
Non-playoff teams typically would like to draft as high as possible, but in the Giants’ case, being outside the top 10 is ideal since they don’t need a quarterback in what is a loaded class.
There are some, though, who believe the Giants can get even better value than the No. 11 pick.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has the Giants trading down with the New England Patriots to No. 15 and then choosing Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Giants look at USC guard Alijah VeraTucker, but they just took three linemen in the first five rounds last year, including Andrew Thomas at No. 4 overall,” McShay wrote. “And while the defense was stellar last season, getting defensive coordinator Patrick Graham a versatile, rangy, fast, instinctive linebacker like Owusu-Koramoah will help keep it that way.”
McShay believes the Patriots would likely send “something in the ballpark” of a third-round 2021 pick and either a second- or third-round 2022 pick in order to make the swap happen and then draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at No. 11.
It’s a good fit since McShay is skeptical that New England would be willing to jump inside the top 10 for a quarterback. McShay also thinks that it makes the most sense value-wise for New York to move back if they’re targeting a defensive player rather than an offensive lineman.
Arguably the Giants’ biggest need is an edge rusher, but McShay doesn’t envision one going off the board until Michigan defensive end Kwity Page at No. 21 to Indianapolis.
“The tricky part is, to be honest, with five quarterbacks going in the top 11 and then four pass-catchers also going in the top 11, it kind of pushes back everyone in terms of the defensive side,” McShay said on a Zoom call this week. “I could see the Giants definitely taking a defensive end or edge rusher at that point, but I think because of all the quarterbacks and pass catchers, there’s a good chance that they get pushed back a little bit.”
The Giants seem less likely to draft a wide receiver in the first round after signing free agent Kenny Golladay to a $72 million contract.
Plus, McShay has the three premier receiver prospects, along with Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, all going off the board before the Giants are on the clock.
The most realistic scenario is that the Giants choose the best player available who fills a need with the 11th pick. General manager Dave Gettleman has never traded down in eight drafts (five in Carolina, three in New York), although it would certainly be plausible this year when you also consider that the Giants only have six total draft picks.
The Giants reportedly targeted Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd in free agency before pivoting to Golladay when Floyd re-signed with Los Angeles, so the front office could be leaning toward that position in the draft.
Cornerback was no longer a pressing need once the Giants also signed free agent Adoree’ Jackson. The secondary is relatively versatile and talented, so adding a marquee rusher up front alongside Leonard Williams could take the defense to the next level.
The best pass rushers in the first round, according to various draft analysts, are Page, Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari, and Miami’s Gregory Rousseau and Jaelan Phillips.
McShady has Rousseau going No. 26 to the Browns but says he is tricky to project and could be valued much higher by a team like the Giants.
“Rousseau, I think, is probably the second best and some teams think he’s the best edge rusher in this year’s class,” McShay said. “The problem is we didn’t see him this past year. But he had 15.5 sacks in 2019. You just see the athleticism and the ability to finish and to get home as a pass-rusher, and there’s not many guys that can get home the way that he does. To me, he brings a lot of athleticism and a lot of pass-rush skills, and I think that if he continues to develop in terms of his strength and being more physical, he can be an every-down defensive end.”