Giants land Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of 10 picks in mock draft

news7g03/29/2023

4 5 minutes read

Giants land Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of 10 picks in mock draft

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East reporter

The giant not big spenders in free agency – at least not on players from other teams – and that’s by design. Since the time general manager Joe Schoen took over last season, he has stated his intention to rebuild the franchise through draft.

The results obtained from his first draft were generally good. As many as seven of the 11 players he picked last year could be starters or key contributors to this year’s squad. And he has 10 more options to exercise this year as he continues to hoard options.

Schoen still has some obvious holes to fill, most notably in the wide receiver. So here’s how the 10 giants choose in NFL Draft 2023 may go:

1. First round, 25th overall: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

At this point, it would be surprising if the Giants didn’t get the recipient in the first round (and completely shocking if they didn’t get the recipient in Round 2). Added Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder didn’t exactly fill this obvious hole in their listing. They have a bunch of guys with good signal reception, but not the only one who can really scare the defense. This 6-foot-197-pounder can, as he demonstrated at the end of 2021 when he averaged 12 catches and 192 yards in his last 5 games, including 15 world catches. world in 347 yards and three touchdowns at the Rose Bowl that season. The worry is that he missed most of last season because of a hamstring injury. But Smith-Njigba performed brilliantly in the mix and scored 4.48 out of 40 at his Pro Day, so he looks fine.

2. Round 2, 57th place overall: Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson

The only position that can convince the Giant to wait for the receiver on the first turn is the back position. It’s a strong and deep class in that position, but a group can disappear when they pick 25th, which means they’ll wait for second in Round 2. Stevenson is 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, big Big, strong, fast and some scouts think he has the potential to play safe too. That could make him the perfect flex-DB for Wink Martindale. He could be the second opposite corner Admiring’ Jacksonor the Giant can start him off in a nickel defense with a variety of roles.

3. Third round, 89th overall: Wisconsin C Joe Tippman

It hasn’t been a great year to need a hub, but the Giants are desperate to get one after losing both Nick Gates and Jon Feliciano to free agency. Right now they can use defender Ben Bredeson in that position, but given his lengthy injury history and his lack of experience at centre-back, they will need more than that. Tippman is a bit tall for the center position (6-6, 313), but he is strong, smart and can move. He might be the second best in an average crop.

4. Round 4, 128th place overall: Syracuse RB Sean Tucker

Giants can still sign Saquon Barkley to extend his contract, but they have made it clear that they don’t want to commit to him for the long term. And given his injury history, they certainly want to hedge their bets. They can do a lot worse than a small, fast player who can catch passes. There’s one caveat, though: He didn’t participate in the combination or Syracuse’s Pro Day because of what he calls “medical exclusions.” That could cause him to slide a lot further than this.

5. Fifth round, 160th overall: Michigan DE Mike Morris

The 6-5, 275-pounder gauge is a compelling test case for how important measurements are to performance. On the court, he is a dangerous power racer that some consider a talent in the second round. Then he had a bad combination consisting of 4.95 in 40, and followed by an even worse Pro Day (his 40 was an offensive lineman like 5, 08). The Giants still want to add more depth to their roster and Morris has the scale and flexibility to play the shot and the occasional handle in their system. But it will depend on whether they believe in the potential he shows on film or are muted by the numbers from his training.

6. Round 5, 172nd place overall: Tulane LB Dorian Williams

At 6-1, 228, at 4.49, he’s almost safer than a full-back, which makes him a perfect match for the Wink Martindale defence. He is perhaps too young to be a full-time full-back, but can perceive situational duty in both roles. He is also an exceptional team player and is highly regarded for his personality, both of which are favorites of the Giants.

7. Round 6, 209th overall (from Kansas City): Oklahoma DT Jalen Redmond

He’s not exactly a prototype DT at 6-2, 291, but his power and speed (his combined run is 4.81) is compelling. He can certainly become a situational player, with speed being a factor in passing. He had 14 sacks in his three years playing for the Sooners, so he was moderately productive. The Giants really need depth in their defence and he can cover both ends and handle tough situations.

The best Smith-Njigba WR in the draft?

Joel Klatt discusses Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, comparing his skills to Rams Cooper Kupp wide receiver.

8. 7th round, 240th place overall (from Baltimore): Kentucky G Tashawn Manning

The Giants have their future set before Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal, but they still don’t have a long-term answer inside. Until they do, let’s hope that they keep throwing bodies in there until they find starters and add some depth. At 6-3, 327, Manning has the size and strength to be a solid roadblock. However, he is not agile (5.34 out of 40) or athletic, which limits his effectiveness.

9. Round 7, 243rd place overall: Baylor OT Connor Galvin

Galvin probably needs some extra size for his 6-7 frame, 293-pound weight and extra strength, but he has experience handling the left ball. He can also become a guard, which makes him a potential reserve swinger. Again, the more youngsters the Giants add to the competition, the better their future lineup will be.

10. Seventh round, 254th overall: Oklahoma State WILL Jason Taylor

His size (6 feet, 204) and strength make him more like a safebox and another potential hybrid backup/safety. He has good pace (4,5) and extensive experience, so his flexibility will be a plus. He’s also a strong player of exceptional teams, which is how he would make up the NFL roster.

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFC East correspondent for FOX Sports, covering the Washington Commanders, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. He had spent the previous six years covering the Giants and the Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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