With the Giants holding the 5th and 7th overall picks in the upcoming draft, trading back from one of those picks to acquire more draft capital is at minimum an attractive option. The weaker QB class makes it less likely a team is going to part ways with future draft assets/players to move up the board, but a QB needy team like Seattle (9th overall pick) and Pittsburgh (20th overall pick) could be willing to trade up to try to land their franchise guy
If that’s the route the Giants end up choosing, who are some of the players the Giants can target later in the first round?
Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa: A few months ago Linderbaum was a popular player for the Giants to take at either 5 or 7. The Linderbaum hype has seemed to cool, but I think that’s more due to positional value and less to do with Lindrbaum himself. Athleticism is his strength, with PFF calling him the best center prospect they’ve ever graded.
Here’s a short film study of Linderbaum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRGtsaRD0CQ
Jameson Williams Wide Receiver: Alabama: I love the idea of targeting a wide receiver in a trade-down scenario. Holes on the offensive line and at edge rusher have overshadowed the need to add more talent to the wide receiver room. Williams tore his ACL in the National Championship game, but he has a rare blend of speed and YAC ability. He can win deep and can also be a weapon on screens and jet sweeps. If the Giants find themselves in the teens or 20s in the first round, Williams might be too good to pass up considering how dreadful their offense has been as of late.
Jameson Williams film study https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwCNEUmjCX4
Williams was the most intriguing to me, but plenty of other receivers could be available in the teens-20s range that could add some much-needed playmaking ability to the Giants. Garett Wilson, Treylon Burks, and Drake London are some of the other top receivers to look into if you want to check out who else the Giants could add at receiver somewhere later in the first round.
Devin Lloyd, Linebacker: Utah: Blake Martinez is only under contract for 2022. Tae Crowder has been solid, but the Giants could benefit from replenishing talent at the linebacker position. Well-rounded is the description that kept coming up when looking further into Lloyd. He has few holes in his game and doesn’t have to come off the field on passing downs, the type of linebacker that can make an immediate impact.
Devin Lloyd film study https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9jLBrV17F8