The roster holes the Giants need to address with their six draft picks
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — If only they were just a quarterback away. If that were the only glaring need for the New York Giants entering the 2024 NFL draft, they would make sure to address that position at all costs with their top pick.
That is hardly the case. The Giants have needs at almost every level of offense. Their defense, particularly the line and secondary, is also thin.
In a way, it gives the Giants options with their six selections, including the No. 6 overall pick.
“We have multiple needs,” general manager Joe Schoen told MMQB at the NFL’s annual meetings. “We are going into Year 3. People assume we’re going quarterback, but we have other needs. If the quarterbacks go one through four, then we’re getting the second-best position player, not quarterback, at six, which is OK, too.”
There is a good chance in that scenario the Giants would select a wide receiver. A No. 1 wide receiver remains a major need as well. Here are some of the positions that Schoen can address with the Giants’ six picks:
Daniel Jones has had three major injuries in three years. Speaking to people in the organization, they understand it would be risky to build around an injury prone quarterback long term. So the Giants have spent months conducting the pre-draft process as if they were going to draft a top quarterback prospect. They’ve met with all the top quarterback prospects on multiple occasions, and even got the public blessing from ownership last month to draft one, if they so desire.
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“If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it’s worth pick No. 6 and we’re moving up, I certainly would support that,” owner John Mara said.
It’s all possible because the Giants can reasonably get out of Jones’ deal after this season. Their attention has been on all the top quarterbacks in the draft. UNC’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy already had visits to East Rutherford. LSU’s Jayden Daniels will have dinner and meet with the Giants’ brass early this week, a source told ESPN. Quarterback is clearly a position the Giants could address in the first round, either at No. 6 or with a trade up — or even with a trade into the back end of the first round for Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix, who they have done homework on.
The Giants allowed Saquon Barkley to walk this offseason and sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. They signed Devin Singletary to take his place. Singletary set a career-high with 216 carries last season, but he’s best served to be the lead back in a running-back-by-committee approach, not a true workhorse.
Right now, the Giants have Singletary, Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray (last year’s fifth-round pick) at the top of the depth chart. Schoen had been looking to add another cheap veteran in free agency. It’s still possible. The Giants are also looking at backs in the Day 2-3 range of the draft. Florida State’s Trey Benson is reportedly set for a visit. Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright and Kentucky’s Ray Davis are also two backs to keep an eye on who fit the mold as the kind of physical back the Giants seem to want.
There is uncertainty with Darren Waller as he contemplates retirement. The Giants have no choice at this point but to operate as if he’s not going to play. That leaves Daniel Bellinger, Tyree Jackson and the newly signed Chris Manhertz and Jack Stoll as options.
Penn State’s Theo Johnson and Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott have visited, and there was a private workout with TCU’s Jared Wiley, according to multiple sources. It seems clear there is a focus on a pass-catching tight end in the draft. The Giants appear serious about adding a tight end somewhere in Rounds 3-5.
The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. It’s no secret they would like a No. 1 receiver and this is the draft to find one at the top. If the Giants don’t get a quarterback, it’s likely they go receiver. They’ve been all over Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze (combine meeting, pro day and visit) every step of the way.
The Giants haven’t been overly active bringing the second tier of receivers in for visits. It’s worth noting, considering the Giants had all three of their top picks last year and three of their first five selections from 2022 in for pre-draft visits.
Let’s put cornerback and safety under the same umbrella, even though the Giants need both. They allowed safety Xavier McKinney to leave in free agency and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson remains unsigned. The Giants added defensive back Jalen Mills, who could be used in multiple spots, and Dane Belton is expected to get a chance to start at safety alongside Jason Pinnock. But the Giants clearly need more in their secondary.
Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips was in for a pre-draft visit and is a strong Day 2 option to monitor. Washington State’s Chau Smith-Wade and Rutgers’ Max Melton are also names to watch, with the latter coming as a visit during the Giants’ recent local pro day.
Note: Amazingly, offensive line appears to be the least of the Giants’ focus near the top of the draft. It probably has something to do with Schoen having invested significant capital (four picks in his first two drafts and four free agent signings this offseason) into the position.