How Will Draft's Deepest Positions Shape Giants' Plans?

The New York Giants have several holes to fill and eight draft picks to play with. There’s room for the Giants to find a redshirt quarterback and a two-way star, or multiple reinforcements on the defensive line, or an overhaul of the team’s depth.

Much of the fanbase’s attention has naturally been spent on Round 1, worrying about whether Travis Hunter will fall to three, if his teammate, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, is the pick anyway, or if Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter has won them over. The calculus for general manager Joe Schoen, though, is on the draft’s later days, when positions grow weaker and surplus value from finding a star skyrockets.

At his pre-draft press conference, Schoen gave insight into the positions he thought were deepest, perhaps giving a glimpse into their prospective plans come draft day.

He started with the sport’s most important position.

“There's some depth to it,” Schoen said. “I mean, there's good players for various reasons, different ages, different playtime experience. There's quarterbacks in this Draft that will go on and play and be starters in the league.”

Asked if there were “quarterbacks of the future” available in this year’s class, Schoen obliged.

“Yeah, I would say so.”

While Sanders remains in play at No. 3, as does a trade back into the first round, the likeliest outcome for New York seems to be a passer on the draft’s second day. Whether that’s Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart, or a senior pocket passer is yet to be seen, but multiple options should be open to them.

“I think the D-line group and the edge group for us, the outside backers and D-line is a really deep group. I would say running backs is a deep group. Corners, there's some depth at corners. Those would be the ones where I think there's some good depth.

“There's some high-end guys at other positions, just maybe not as much depth.”

Both the defensive linemen and running backs in this class play into New York’s needs. The team’s pre-draft visits indicate an interest in a complementary back to Tyrone Tracy, looking into early Round 2 options like Omarion Hampton and lesser-touted backs like Cam Skattebo. The common denominator was a physical demeanor and size that would make the Giants more powerful when Tracy is off the field, even if it means sacrificing some pass-catching prowess.

With so many good backs, New York may wait until late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 to add to its stable.

The defensive line, meanwhile, could be addressed at No. 34, especially if the right quarterback isn’t available. With Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence rushing the passer, the unit is already strong. Carter could be added to the mix, but the front four is still without a viable starter on the interior next to Lawrence.

Adding a bigger body who can help with the team’s structural issues against the run, while also taking advantage of Lawrence’s gravity on passing downs, is lucrative. Whether it be Walter Nolen, T.J. Sanders, or another Day 2 prospect, the class will be generous to the Giants.

Schoen also mentioned corner, and after working out unheralded Oklahoma State defensive back Korie Black, a Day 3 selection in the secondary doesn’t seem unreasonable. With a handful of less-refined, explosive athletes waiting for them, it will be a position to watch as the draft winds down.