Giants mock draft: WR1 on most boards falls to the Giants

Marvin Harrison Jr.

In this edition of my weekly New York Giants multi-round mock draft, the Giants land a top-tier wide receiver in Round 1 and address quarterback later on. Let’s get to it.

Round 1 (No. 6) — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Four quarterbacks went off the board in the first five picks.

Caleb Williams (1 — Chicago Bears); Drake Maye (2 — Washington Commanders); J.J. McCarthy (3 — New England Patriots); Jayden Daniels (5 — Las Vegas Raiders, via trade up with the Los Angeles Chargers.

I am a big Rome Odunze fan, but I can’t leave Harrison on the board for Odunze here.

I am reasonably certain that Giants’ GM Joe Schoen would have several move-down offers here. He might even take one, especially if he could stay in the top 10 and take Odunze. I wouldn’t blame him for that at all. I didn’t feel like messing around, so I just took Harrison.

It is pretty amazing that sitting at No. 6 the Giants could end up with the player most consider the best one in the draft not named Caleb Williams.

Confession: I would take either Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy here, but I don’t have the option. I think Schoen would, too. I think this is a real-world scenario where Schoen and the Giants get shut out because with just six picks and having dealt their extra second-rounder to the Carolina Panthers for Brian Burns they don’t have the ammo to make the trade up they might like to make.

Harrison is a nice consolation prize. Because he isn’t a consolation prize at all.

In his draft guide, Dane Brugler of The Athletic writes:

It can be difficult to discuss Harrison without sounding hyperbolic, because he grades well above average in most areas of playing the position. A tall, lean target with the long speed and short-area agility of a smaller player, Harrison displays controlled fluidity in his releases/routes, which allows him to create se paration with complex breaks, stem angles and subtle head/body fakes. He has the uncanny ability to slow down the ball with his eyes, expand his catch radius and frame the football to make low – percentage catches appear routine (similar to Larry Fitzgerald). He has finesse tendencies, and his average physicality is one of the only areas of his game that must improve. Overall, Harrison has dominant receiving traits and can win from anywhere on the field, because of his athletic gifts, route savvy and adjustment/finishing skills at the catch point. He is among the best receiving prospects to enter the NFL in recent memory, and he has the dedication to his craft to be a playmaking No. 1 NFL receiver and future All-Pro.

Other players considered: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Round 2 (No. 47) — T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa St.

I could have gone in a lot of different directions here. I think this is a great trade-down spot for Schoen and the Giants, especially with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. still on the board.

If the Giants can move down a bit in Round 2 and add a Round 3 or Round 4 selection I would be fine with that. Schoen has acknowledged that one or two players aren’t going to fix the Giants as they “have different needs throughout the roster.” A small move down here would give the Giants an extra opportunity to try and address one of those needs.

Here, though, I opt for a player I think is a Week 1 starter for the Giants at the high-value cornerback spot.

In his draft guide, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has a Round 2-3 grade on Tampa. He writes:

A three-year starter at Iowa State, Tampa lined up at left outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s zone -heavy scheme. After initially recruiting him as a wide receiver, the Cyclones’ coaches (including former NFL cornerback Hank Poteat) saw Tampa’s potential at cornerback and helped develop him into one of the top defensive players in the Big 12 — he allowed just one touchdown catch in his final 934 defensive snaps. Tampa has the ingredients to be a pressman corner, but he did his best work on tape from off coverage, where he accurately saw through receivers to the quarterback and overlapped zones to drive on throws. Despite having only three interceptions on his college resume, he plays the ball well, with the timing to attack the catch point simultaneously with receivers. Overall, Tampa gets a little sticky with his footwork at the top of routes, but he doesn’t lose much separation and plays with the size, range and ball skills to be disruptive. He has the tools and potential to be a starting perimeter cornerback in various schemes.

In its draft guide, Pro Football Focus writes:

Tampa’s unique fluidity and size for a cornerback make him worthy of a top-75 pick. If he can clean up his footwork, he can be a starting outside cornerback in the NFL with the potential to be an impact player.

Other players considered: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State; Max Melton, CB, Rutgers; Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU; Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan; Javon Bullard, S, Georgia

Round 3 (No. 70) — Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina

This is another spot where Schoen and the Giants could consider a small trade down for additional assets. I decided to just go ahead and make a selection.

This selection will draw a mixed reaction, I know. The selection of any quarterback at any point in the draft would do the same.

I know Schoen said during his pre-draft press conference that he would be fine entering the season with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito. That, though, is what he had to say because those are the quarterbacks he has.

With Jones having just one year of guaranteed money left on his contract and Lock only having a one-year deal, it behooves to at least find a quarterback capable of becoming at least a place-holding starting option in 2025.

Rattler is the last quarterback in the 2024 class considered by analysts to have actual starting upside in the NFL.

Brugler writes:

A two-year starter at South Carolina, Rattler performed well in offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ pass-first, pro-style scheme. After a turbulent three seasons in Norman, he put steady play on film in two seasons with the Gamecocks and set the school record for career completion percentage (67.5 percent), despite inconsistent surroundings (the South Carolina offensive line had a different front-five combination in 10 of 12 games in 2023). With repeatable mechanics and an athletic release, Rattler has NFL-level arm strength plus a natural feel for touch and poise in his process. However, his decision-making and timing must show better consistency (both in structure and out of structure). Overall, Rattler has a methodical play style and needs to be more urgent in his movements/reads, but he has the arm talent, self-confidence and work habits that give him a fighting chance to work his way up an NFL depth chart. He offers upside at the position, but the interview process will be crucial to his draft grades.

The Pro Football Focus draft guide says:

Rattler has a mature game with fundamentals and pocket presence, in addition to good accuracy in and out of structure. His arm is adequate, but he needs to continue to improve at seeing additional coverage defenders post-snap. He projects as a Day 2 QB with starting potential.

Charles Davis of NFL.com recently listed Rattler as a player he would pound the table for:

I’ve seen progress from Rattler on and off the field over the past two seasons. He’ll probably go late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 of the draft, but there’s a reason he was once a highly touted prospect. Remember, this was a five-star recruit widely considered the best quarterback in his class. He eventually lost his starting job to Caleb Williams at Oklahoma in 2021 and then transferred to South Carolina after the season. His setback has become a comeback, though. Rattler was the Gamecocks’ co-MVP in 2022 and then set school records for completions (275) and completion percentage (68.9) in 2023. He’s shown he has the tools and toughness to succeed. I feel good about this young man — who has some Teddy Bridgewater in his game — and his chances of making it in the NFL.

Other players considered: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan; Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon; Tyler Nugin, S, Minnesota; Trey Benson, RB, Florida State; Jaden Hicks, S, Washington; Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State; Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State

Round 4 (No. 107) — Will Shipley, RB, Clemson

Following this pick, the Giants don’t have another pick until No. 166. That makes this yet another spot where a small move down should be considered.

I am going rogue here and ignoring the ESPN board to take a player I think is a tremendous fit for the Giants. Shipley is the 172nd-ranked player on ESPN’s board, and there are 67 players ranked higher. I know Shipley is going to be off the board by the time I pick again at No. 166, so I am taking him here.

Brugler writes:

Shipley reads the field well and runs with short-area quickness in and out of his cuts — he credits his lacrosse background for his skilled footwork and gear change. He is at his best in the screen game, where his vision and contact balance have a chanc e to shine. Overall, Shipley has only average size, but he runs with controlled athleticism and competitive urgency in all areas of his game. Though he has the mentality of an early-down grinder, his versatile skills fit best in a third-down role and on special teams.

In The Rookie Scouting Portfolio draft guide, Matt Waldman writes:

Shipley is one of the two best receiving backs in this class and has the potential to become a lead back or starter on the strength of his receiving skills.

What is his ceiling scenario? Shipley becomes a lead back and top producer due to his versatility. 82

What is his floor scenario? Shipley becomes a complementary contributor or reserve with value in the return game and two-minute offense.

Other players considered: Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU; Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State; Jalyx Hunt, edge, Houston Christian; Tanor Bortolini, C-G, Wisconsin; Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin

Round 5 (No. 166) — Jalyx Hunt, edge, Houston Christian

I add to the Giants’ depth on the edge with an exciting small-school player.

Brugler has a Round 4-5 grade on Hunt. He writes:

A two-year starter at Houston Christian, Hunt played the LEO role as an outside linebacker in the Huskies’ 3-4 base scheme. A late bloomer, he was a 195- pound safety at Cornell before adding weight and moving to linebacker in 2022 following his transfer to Houston Christian. Despite only two years in the program, at a new position, he led the team in sacks both seasons (No. 2 in school history in career sacks) and was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. As a pass rusher, Hunt creates pressure when allowed to pin his ears back and race to the quarterback, although he tends to rush too upright and will need more of an assortment of moves. He plays with energetic hustle in pursuit, but he is more physical than powerful and needs to play bigger and more consistent versus the run. Overall, Hunt is overly reliant on his athletic gifts and needs to become savvier with his hands and pass-rush approach, but his explosiveness, body length and willingness to be coached are attractive qualities. He is a draft-and-develop prospect who can fill a subpackage role as a rookie and play special teams.

Other players considered: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech; Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois; Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota

Round 6 (No. 183) — Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College

I looked at the board, didn’t immediately see a name that jumped out at me and decided to invoke the ‘when in doubt, draft a lineman’ rule. I went hunting for the player I thought was the best potential offensive lineman. For the second week in a row, I find Mahogany under-valued on the ESPN board in my opinion.

This is a pick I couldn’t pass up this late in the draft.

33rd Team writes:

Mahogany projects as a starting right guard at the next level who is best utilized in an inside zone, duo, or power run scheme. His limitations out in space make him a much better fit as someone who can work straight up to the 2nd level or pull and kick or log at the edge of the tackle box. Additionally, he shows some ability to shift out to right tackle and be an effective backup there as well, especially in the run game, if he can limber up some and improve his foot quickness. If the knee continues to improve and he gets back to his 2021 version, something that was apparent as the season went on, there’s high-end starting-level potential sooner rather than later.

Other players considered: None