We have this theory, based on the notion that we think Giants’ G.M. Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll and company are looking to the 2023 draft less to simply fill holes in the roster and more as another step in the process of building a championship contender, that what they’d like to get out of this year’s draft is a first-round quality WR, a first-round quality corner and a first-round quality defensive linemen. Needless to say, with only one choice in the first 50 picks getting all three going to be a huge long shot. Maybe more a pipe dream. It is one reason, though, we can’t help but wonder if they think seriously about packaging some 7 third day picks they have to move up in the second round to get a better shot at a really good player.
We also think it is going to take a major upset of some kind for the Giants not to get a WR with the 25th pick, either on draft day or through a trade for a veteran. And while most people appear to think that CB is their other prime priority this off-season, we just an’t help but think they really want to come out of the process with at least another really good defensive lineman. We also suspect that, if that is indeed the case, what they will be looking for is a bigger, tweener type who can play outside on early downs and then kick inside on passing downs. In that context, the one non-receiver who could tempt them at #25 is Georgia Tech DE Keion White, a 285-290-pounder with pass rush ability.
In fact, White is one guy we’ll be watching very closely at tomorrow’s on-field workout for defensive linemen and LBs at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. At the same time, other DL we’ll be looking at as potential second round candidates include Mike Morris of Michigan, Tuli Tuipulotu of Southern Cal, and Zach Harrison of Ohio State, while Dylan Horton of TCU, Auburn’s Colby Wooden, Dante Stills of West Virginia and Oklahoma State’s Tyler Lacy are later round possibilities. The other guy we’ll be watching very closely is Pitt DT Calijah Kancey, who’s an odd size at 6-0, 280 and doesn’t fit any prototype, but man can he can play!
The LBs will also be working out tomorrow afternoon and while the Giants did get torched by opposing run games late last season, we just don’t see the Giants using one of their top two picks to address a position that can just as easily be addressed in free agency. We never like to say never, though, and the exception might be if there was a LB available just too good to pass on, especially in the early part of the second round. Drew Sanders of Arkansas, for example, could very qualify in that context as he has always appeared to us as something of a poor man’s Micah Parsons. The other guy we’d be intrigued by in the latter part of the second round is Daiyan Henley of Washington State.
