The following is my perspective, insights, and commentary about the upcoming NFL football draft and its prospects. It is written from the perspective of what I would do as the New York Giant General Manager. It is not a prediction of what the Giant front office will do, but rather what I would do. The player assessments of course are applicable for any football team.
1st Round:
2 Malik Nabers, WR, 6’0” 200 4.4.0 LSU
1/17/24 The conversation about Darius Slayton as being a WR1 or not persists. There are those who believe that if the OL was better, and if the QB was better, Slayton’s numbers would be better as well. Slayton improved this year to a career best in receiving yards, as well as reducing the number of balls dropped (3) for the season. And there are those who believe that Slayton is essentially a good WR2.
Nabers is a WR1. This past year he had 89 receptions for 1,569 yards. That is 17.6 yards a catch. LSU put Nabers out wide and essentially said, “go beat your man.” And that is what Nabers did. Good hands and good ability to go up and get the ball. Too often he had to wait for the ball, but still was able to beat the cornerback or safety. It wouldn’t be that simple on the next level. But a big-time prospect.
3 Amarius Mims. RT, 6’7” 340 Georgia
1/19/24 After watching some tape, I was shocked to see that Mims is 6’7” and 340 pounds. Because the first thing I see is footwork. The current NYG RT has poor footwork, bends at the waist and is too often out of position. Mims is totally different. One sees footwork, and one see balance. And able to do these things at that size? Impressive. Mims only played in seven games this year, due to injuries. The only other negative is when Mims puts both of his hands on his thigh, one immediate knows that the play is going to be a pass. But that can be corrected. Able to switch off with teammates and respond to stunts, Mims is such a pleasant surprise. Is he a 1st round talent? Yes. Is he a Top 10 prospect, probably not.
4 Keon Coleman, WR, 6’4” 215 4.45 Florida State
1/19/24 There is a lot to like about Coleman. Initially watching him one doesn’t realize how tall he is. His body is proportional and in sync. One also realizes that while he has good speed, it is not great speed. But fast enough. Huge production this year; 115 catches 1,506 yards and 19 TD. I like seeing production. From a value perspective. I have to look at the top receivers again (as I will be looking at them multiple time) and try to see what separates them. Coleman is better than a 2nd round pick. Real good hands, and an ability to go and track the ball in the air. Where he goes in the 1st round is hard to tell, as always there many variables in determining where a player falls to and eventually gets drafted.
5. Bo Nix, QB 6’2” 217 Oregon
2/2/24 Will be 24 years old with the season begins. Huge numbers this past year; 45 TD, 3 INTs. Did rush for 234 yards this past year. Doing due diligence.
1/22/24 What jumps off the screen (to me) his Nix’s athleticism. A good athlete, able to run from pressure, able to adapt his throws with various arm angles. Good athlete. Able to throw with a nice touch on the ball. The flip side to that is does Nix rely to much on floating the ball to his receivers? The time in the air will give NFL defenders time to recovery and knock away passes. A lot of balls are thrown to his receivers on the outside, some of whom are high prospects ((Troy Franklin) themselves and who are simply able to race past their defenders. I don’t see ball over the middle, balls that would be used in a West Coast offense that requires the quarterback to his receiver in stride. Nix will require multiple looks at.
6. Rome Odunze, WR 6’3” 215 4.34 Washington
2/2/24 I watched a little bit more of Oduze. I like him. He can be an elite WR1.
1/26/24 I have watched some Nabers as well as Coleman. I will have to go back and look at both again. In watching Odunze, I get excited immediately by the possibilities. I see him in crossing patterns, and yes, he can play on the outside, although not used as frequently as Nabers was on the outside. 87 catches for 1,553 yards (17.9 average) is a good indicator of production. Utilized on end-arounds as well, Odunze’s speed instantly is a stressor for any defense. Odunze fits into the Giant trend of upgrading team speed, and is a top 10 draft prospect.
7. Drake Maye, QB 6’4” 230 North Carolina
1/26/24 The elephant in the room. Do the Giants take a quarterback to replace Daniel Jones, who is in the early stages of a huge multi-year contract. Maye has NFL QB size and an elite arm. He seems to rely frequent on that arm, as many of his arms are thrown off the back foot. He reminds me somewhat of Josh Allen. Allen, who did not have a high completion rate in college (sub 60%, perhaps something like 57%) still goes through stretches of turnovers due to bad mechanics and a belief that he can throw into a window of opportunity due to his arm. Maye is that player.
Maye is a redshirt sophomore and does not have that much experience. There is a correlation between college experience at quarterback and NFL success. Anthony Richardson seemed to be an outlier this year to that equation; Maye is not nearly as athletic as Richardson. Unlike Allen, Maye when rolling out does not particularly seem interested in pulling down the ball and running with the ball. Two sides to look at that: chance of less hits and therefore less injuries, the negative is that Maye is not really an RPO fit.
8 Tyler Guyton, RT 6’7” 328 Oklahoma
2/5/24 Guyton is a 1st round prospect. Because the tackle position is of such premium, probably the 1st half of the 1st round. Seems to have done well in the practices leading up to the Senior Bowl; practicing well against the best seniors is a significant statement.
2/2/24 Some video coming out of the Senior Bowl, Guyton seems to be moving better than what I previous saw. Needs to be looked at some more. Part of the process….
1/26/24 Evan Neal is not anyone’s answer, and needs to be replaced at right tackle by the NY Giants. One doesn’t find tackles as low draft picks; sometimes one can stumble and find an offensive guard, but not tackles. Guton only has one full year of college ball. That is a negative. His footwork is okay, although he seemingly is flat footed at times. Perhaps a slight projection here, but a player that needs to be looked at some more.
9. JJ McCarthy, QB 6’3” 205 Michigan
2/9/24 McCarthy played in an offense that was a run first offense. That being said, he completed over 72% of his passes with 22 TD and just 4 INTs. Not an NFL offense, as most of the throws are not easy high percentage throws, yet McCarthy completed a high percentage. Tends to run around in the backfield to buy time a little too much. Sometimes it looks almost like a highlight blooper video, as McCarthy understands that he is a better athlete than the linemen that he is playing against. Hopefully, he will learn real fast in the NFL what he can do and what he can’t do. He is running around to buy time as he looks time to throw down the field. He is not looking to take off and run with the ball.
I could see McCarthy though in a RPO offense. Has a good arm, and there is a lot to like. But he is a little light for RPO. Initially, I like him better than Daniels, Penix, Jr. or Nix. I need to go back and look at all of these again. Where in the 1st round will McCarthy go is of interest.
2nd Round:
1 Kamren Kinchen, FS 6’0” 205 4.45 Miami (FL)
1/22/24 Xavier McKiney, the NY Giants current free safety is about to become a free agent. While the Giant offensive needs are more pressing, one still has to look to improve and fill in weaknesses on the other side of the ball. Kinchen had five interceptions last year, and six the year before. These numbers caught my attention. In watching video on Kinchen, I saw him used in a variety of ways. He can play deep and converge on the ball while in the air for the interception.
This is elite play, many FSs in the NFL are not able to do this. And yes, Kinchen was used at times to blitz. He is a sure tackler, whether on the blitz or making an open field tackle. A very good player. Yes, I would want to be faster, and yes, I would want him to be a little bigger. He is what he is. Is he a 1st round selection? Maybe not. Could he fall into the second round as an early round pick? Hopefully.
3 Graham Norton, OG, 6’4” 315 Duke
1/29/24 – Norton played left tackle in college this past year. Has nice hands. Once he is locked on the defender, Norton is able to impose his will on the opponent. Nice balance. Footwork is solid. Nice pass protection. Didn’t pull much in the run game, does a solid pin out block on the edge when asked. Hoping to fall to the early 2nd round. A solid prospect.
4 Troy Fautonu, OG 6’4” 317 Washington
1/29/24 I put Fautonu in for the 2nd round as he played LT while at Washington. A pass heavy offense. The best blocker for Michael Penix Jr. Put Fautonu is a little short to be an ideal tackle, so I’m projected him to be a guard at the next level. Always an unproven idea, sometimes it works out, sometimes not. I’m not willing to take such chances in the 1st round.
5. Christian Haynes, RG 6’2” 316 U Conn
2/5/24 Haynes is a guard, no conversation about moving from another position here. Haynes started 49 games straight for the Huskies at guard, he is durable. 3rd Team All American two years in a row. The conversation is the level of play that he faced.
Haynes answered that question this past week at the Senior Bowl. He was voted the Top OL on the American team by the players that went up to him. That is why in part I moved Haynes up to the 2nd round. He holds his own against elite players.
U Conn has a balanced offense, mixing the run and play game almost 50-50. Haynes is athletic, can get to the next level. He moves his feet well, rarely is off balance, can get to the next level on run blocks. Arm length of 33 7/8 is adequate. A nice player to watch.
6 Roman Wilson, WR 6’0” 4.37 Michigan
2/5/24 Wilson had a good week at the Senior Bowl. Had 48 catches, 12 TDs 789 yards for a 16.4 average per catch in a run heavy Michigan offense. A lot of catches are over the middle, catch and run all day. A terrific prospect.
7. Brian Thomas, 6’4” 205 4.40 LSU
2/8/23 A totally different receiver than Roman Wilson. Works almost exclusively vertically. Didn’t see much over the middle. Stacks the defender well and then makes his move. Real good production: 68 catches, 17 TDs, 17.3 yards per catch.
8. Blake Fisher, RT 6’6”315 Notre Dame
2/8/24 I enjoy watching Thomas play. I have watched film on him before, I just didn’t get to writing it up. Heavy hands, long arms. Just tosses people around. Enjoys laying on people, pinning them down. I wonder if somewhere out there is a wrestling background. The need to pin the opponent to the ground is strong. Fisher is the “other” OT from Notre Dame coming out in this draft. Alt is higher rated. The footwork is not as good as Mims, but better than Fuaga. Neither has hands like Fisher.
3rd Round:
1 Cooper Beebe, OG, 6’4” 335 Kansas State
1/26/24 Last year I followed offensive guard Cyrus O’Torrence. I thought he would be a really good NFL player. The Bills took him last year in the 2nd round. He has become a plug-in player, good for the next 10 years. Beebe is not the same as O’Torrence, but is in the same paragraph. Just watched some more video. Can pull and get into the second level. A big person in the second tier. Doubtful that he lasts until the 3rd player. Will be a solid NFL player.
1/17/24 I am starting Beebe off as a 3rd rounder, reality is that he is probably a second half 2nd rounder; being that the Giants draft close to the top of the round, he probably is not a 2nd round idea. One is looking at Beebe in case he falls for some reason into the top of the 3rd round. Beebe can play either guard position, he played primarily LG this past season. Watching video: Wide base, good hands. Has the ability to pull, although not great speed. The best lineman on the field. The Giants are so lacking in talent on the OL, Beebe would be a solid addition.
2 Jaylen Wright, RB 5’11” 209 4.37 Tennessee
1/29/24 I saw the 40 time, and I said I need to look closely. The NY Giants have Eric Gray and a 4.46. The difference is day and night. 4.37 is Raheem Mostert of the Miami Dolphins and the ability to break a run any time for a touchdown. Wright averaged 7.4 yards a carry this past year. The measurables are attention worthy. He gained over 1,100 yards. He may not be a feature back, and maybe can’t the punishment of 20 plus carries a game. That’s okay. The Dolphins are showing what speed can do. Wright is worthy of multiple look-sees.
3 Trevin Wallace, ILB, 6’2: 244 4,55
1/30/24 Runs well, good pursuit, good speed. Perhaps a little short. A solid player. Perhaps a round four player. But solid.
4 Adisa Isaac, OLB 6’4” 249 Penn State
2/2/24 A bunch of good players in this range. I am putting Issac as a 3rd round consideration as I don’t see any idea of a bend around the edge. He has a good motor as well as good speed. Would like to know what he runs. If he runs a 4.5, one has to reconsider where he should be in the draft. 7.5 sacks during the year. Isaac had an Achilles tear in 2021, which he seems to have fully recovered.
5 Adoni Mitchell, WR 6’4” 196 4.50 Texas
2/7/24 Mitchell played at Georgia before transferring to Texas. The move payed off, as this past year he had 55 catches for 845 yards 15.4 yards per catch. The film from Georgia showed a crispness in the routes, throws and plays. A Todd Monken offense.
The quarterback in Texas did not do Mitchell justice. Too many balls that Mitchell had to wait for. Despite adequate weight, seems slight of frame. Not a whole lot of crossing patterns over the middle. At a time where every prospect is a first round pick, I don’t see Mitchell that way. Perhaps a WR2 in time.
6 Emeka Egbuka, WR 6’1” 203 4.30 Ohio State
2/9/24 Egbuka has elite speed. Played all over the field: X, flanker, slot. Big enough and sturdy enough to go over the middle. Seemingly forgotten this year playing across from Marvin Harrison Jr. Egbuka had 41 catches with a 12.6 yards per catch average this year. Last year he had 74 catches for 1,151 yards with a 15.6 average. He missed several games this year, had “tightrope” surgery on his ankle, which explains some of his reduced production this year. These concerns are reflected by putting the wide receiver as a 3rd round prospect.
4th Round:
- Gabriel Murphy, OLB 6’3” 260 UCLA
1/26/24 I have not been enamored with the number of games that Azeez Ojulari has missed the last two years. Micah McFadden has filled in; an upgrade is always a possibility.
There are multiple negatives with Murphy. What caught my attention was the 62 pressures this past year. An astonishing amount. Yes, he had 8 sacks. But pressure on the ball is a good thing. Yes, Murphy does not have length, and seemingly plays at one speed, a good speed, but has not twitch to add to that. 19 penalties in three years is a tough factor when assessing Murphy. It is one of the reasons why I don’t have him higher.
- Adisa Isaac, OLB 6’4” 249 4.60 Penn State
1/29/23 Isaac is another is another conversation of a player that could one day be a starter. Good against the run. And he still had 7.5 sacks. Runs well. Someone to take a second look at.
3. Darius Robinson, DE 6’5” 296 4.78 Missouri
2/3/24 In watching film, one thinks initially of an OLB in a 3-4. Except that Robinson is almost 300 pounds. He is a DE in a 4-3. Has a nice swim move. His game is primarily on the edge and go get the quarterback. Not sure about setting the edge or being effective against the run. Has a good motor, good speed.
4. Blake Fisher, RT, 6’6” 311 Notre Dame
2/5/24 The other OT from Notre Dame in this year’s draft. Fisher is not a Day consideration. Has heavy hands, and good arm length. Seems to play as the big kid in the game. Not good when at the next level, all the kids are big. Doesn’t seem to move particular well.
5th Round
- Kamal Hadden. CB 6’1” 197 4.45 Tennessee
I like my cornerback with more length. Hadden is a draftable CB. And if one drafts a CB in the fifth round, one has to make concessions. Hadden missed the second half of the season with a shoulder injury. Almost looks light for a player close to 200 pounds.
2. Jonathan Brooks, RB 6’0” 205 Texas
2/9/24 There is a lot to like here with Brooks. Good production; 1,470 yards gained this past year. Has good hands for little swing passes coming out of the backfield. But he is somewhat slight in build for a RB, and cannot be a feature back in the NFL. He could see some reps every game.
6th Round
Davius Richard, QB, North Carolina Central 6’3” 220
2/7/23 Richard’s name came across my desk’ intrigued I put on some film. A man amongst boys, Richard was always the best player on the field. There hasn’t been a HCBU quarterback drafted in 18 years, Tarvarius Jackson being the last. With so many quarterback breaking down do to RPO, carrying three quarterbacks is becoming a necessity. Richard put up huge numbers in college. He needs to be looked at.
Waste Basket
1 Joe Alt, LT, 6’8” 315 Notre Dame
EEtrading Thomas.
1/17/24 Alt is a left tackle. The NY Giants have an elite left tackle in Andrew Thomas. This is about doing due diligence. Alt is tall, and unfortunately too often plays high. Great length, but a lack of athleticism jumps out as well as a little stutter step footwork as he sets up to make a block on a pull or the next level.
Taliese Fuagu, RT, 6.6” 334 Oregon State
2/8/23 Fuaga is pretty good in the run game. I still don’t like his footwork in the pass game. Choppy, no slide, seemingly unsure of himself, certainly against speed.
1/19/24 I just watched video on Amarius Mims, and I’m spoiled. Fugua is a step down. He plays too high, and his footwork is not the same as Mims. Not even close. Fuaga’s game is more about “I’m bigger than you, let me overwhelm you.” Fuagu,, meet Evan Neal. Someone will take Fuagu in the top 3 rounds. Not interested. I’ve seen enough and don’t want to see more.
Jayden Daniels, QB, 6’4” 210 LSU
1/19/24 Daniels is a top tier quarterback, and I just don’t love him. He seems to want to put the ball down and run with it, as if in doubt. Prefers to take off before looking down the field for a progression read. Not the biggest quarterback, Daniels will get hit and injured when he too often relies on his feet. Also, not in love with the arm. Too many throws on plays less than 20 yards down the field just aren’t crisp and targeted. These are the throws that a team lives on, and it just isn’t there. Too many throws the wide receiver had to stop and wait on the ball. That window of opportunity doesn’t exist in the NFL.
Michael Pratt, QB 6”3’ 220 Tulane
1/28/24 Pratt has been a four-year starter in college. There is a correlation between have college experience and being closer to NFL ready. Pratt’s name comes up as everyone believes that they have uncovered the next Brock Purdy.
Pratt’s arm strength is not elite. I compare it to Kyle Lauletta, who was drafted several years ago by the NY Giants. The response to a lack of arm strength is “he throws with anticipation.” Pratt is not overly athletic either, one really can’t run RPO plays with him. The quarterback is draftable, perhaps 5th round, as someone will be wishful. Pratt perhaps can make a team, and perhaps can become a backup quarterback. But he is not a starting NFL quarterback.
Michael Penix, Jr. QB 6’3” 213 Washington
1/30/23 2 ACLs. Enough said. Not willing to take a chance. Sorry.
Marcus Rosemy-Jack Saint 6’2” 194 WR Georgia
2/2/24 Having played for Georgia, and recognizing the Georgia has lots of talent, one has to dive deeper than just the stats. Yes, 34 catches good for 15.7 yards a catch. Good yards after catch. But Rosemy-Jack Saint doesn’t even run a 4.55.
Jared Verse, 6’4” 260 Edge Florida State
2/2/24 I put Verse in my Waste Basked, because he is a mid 1st round pick, and the Giants, unless they trade down, are picking much earlier than when Verse should be selected. Has good hands, nice speed to power. Shows a genesis of a bend. Productive this past year with 9 sacks. Much of it was due to a bull rush. Maybe that doesn’t happen on the next level. Doesn’t have an inside move yet, and was not asked to drop back into coverage.
Ladd McConkey, WR 6’0” 185 4.55 Georgia
2/3/24 McConkey is playing in the Senior Bowl; Jim Nagy feels he has game. McConkey played at Georgia, Kirby Smart thinks McConkey has game. The question is does McConkey have game at the next level.
Good acceleration, this is important for a route runner such as McConkey. One needs just a little space to get open. McConkey excels at this. He has a slight frame. Comes over the middle, it is going to be difficult for him to survive.
Michael Pratt, QB, 6’2” 220 Tulane
2/3/34 The Brock Purdy conversation. Both undersized, both not elite size nor arm. How does one evaluate the ability to process? Purdy is a total fit in Shanahan’s system. The chances of Pratt finding such a home are remote. Look at Bryce Young. A tough situation to be in, almost no support. No B Aiyuk, G Kittles or CMC. No shade on Purdy, none what so ever. The previous QBs could not do what he is doing. Hopefully. Pratt will find a home.
Darius Robinson, DE 6’5” 296 Missouri
2/7/24 Robinson has certain attributes. A high-motor player. He seems to be a fit for something like a Philadelphia race car pressure defense. Limited places/teams for that. I see him in a 4-3. Not sure that he can set an edge. The Giants play a 3-4, so the Waste Basket.
Barry Schustermann
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