When the NFL Draft, which begins on April 23, draws closer, I’ll publish my final Giants’ seven-round mock draft. That will be based on reporting, analysis, tea leaf reading — whatever it takes to get the best handle on the Giants’ draft plans.
I’m not too humble to offer a reminder that I hit on three of the Giants’ first four picks in each of the past two drafts. We’ll see if I can maintain that batting average in my final mock draft next month.
Today’s mock draft is a different exercise. Teams are still gathering intel on prospects, so it would be difficult to have a grasp on how things will play out. Instead, this is a need-based mock draft to examine how the Giants can fill their remaining holes after the first wave of free agency.
With that in mind, I didn’t execute any draft trades. The point of this mock is to give a sense of who could be available when the Giants are on the clock for their seven picks (this mock used a Pro Football Network mock draft simulation):
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Round 1, pick 5: Sonny Styles, ILB, Ohio State
The first four picks in this simulation were quarterback Fernando Mendoza, linebacker Arvell Reese, running back Jeremiyah Love and edge rusher David Bailey. Having Love off the board to the Cardinals with the third pick removed a sticky decision, as the Giants have been rumored to be enamored with the Notre Dame star. There was some consideration of a wide receiver or an offensive lineman, but this decision came down to a pair of Ohio State defenders: Styles got the nod over safety Caleb Downs because of his star potential.
The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Styles transitioned from safety to linebacker in 2024, so he’s still scratching the surface of his potential. His eye-popping performance at the combine confirmed the athleticism he shows on the field. As with Love, there will be a positional value debate about taking Styles with the fifth pick. But the Ravens invested premium resources at inside linebacker when John Harbaugh was in Baltimore. It won’t be a surprise if Harbaugh values Styles as the heart of his defense for the next decade.
Round 2, pick 37: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
It would be surprising if the Giants don’t sign a starting-caliber right guard before the draft, but it will likely be a one-year stopgap at this stage of free agency (bringing back Greg Van Roten for another year makes a lot of sense). Guard figures to be a top priority in the draft, with the hopes of landing a long-term solution who could compete for the starting job as a rookie. Bisontis would fit that bill in the second round. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder’s run-blocking would be a natural fit in the Giants’ offense, and he has the upside to develop into a quality all-around guard.
Round 4, pick 105: Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
The Giants will have a long wait between picks, as they dealt their third-rounder to the Texans last year as part of the package to land quarterback Jaxson Dart. They can spend the third round watching highlights from Dart’s rookie season before getting back in the mix at the start of Day 3 of the draft. When the Giants are back on the clock, their focus should remain in the trenches. As with guard, it’s expected that the Giants will add a veteran defensive tackle before the draft. But their inactivity on the defensive line in free agency heightens the need to invest in a defensive tackle in the draft. Benny doesn’t project as an immediate starter, but the 6-foot-3, 298-pounder could be added to a rotation with the hopes that he matures after being a late bloomer at Michigan.
Round 5, pick 145: Malik Benson, WR, Oregon
The Giants’ needs aren’t restricted to the offensive and defensive lines. Their wide receiver room needs reinforcements with Wan’Dale Robinson departing in free agency, Malik Nabers recovering from knee surgery, Darius Slayton coming off a down season and Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin arriving on one-year prove-it deals. Even if the Giants can get through this season with those veterans, there isn’t much youth to complement Nabers. The 6-foot, 189-pound Benson, who ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the combine, would be an immediate deep threat with the traits to potentially develop into more.
Round 6, pick 186: Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina
The sixth round is far too late to be banking on landing starters, but good teams find useful depth pieces at this stage of the draft. The Giants need to bolster their depth at corner, which is a position where late-round picks routinely get on the field as rookies. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Dixon could develop into a quality backup.
Round 6, pick 192: James Brockermeyer, C, Miami
The Giants got this pick in the trade that sent tight end Darren Waller and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Dolphins. The Giants have surprisingly re-signed three backup offensive linemen — Evan Neal, Aaron Stinnie and Joshua Ezeudu — but they lost their most valuable backup when Austin Schlottmann signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Titans. Schlottmann played well in four starts at center last season, so the Giants are left without a proven backup to John Michael Schmitz. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Brockermeyer could be added to a competition among unproven players to back up Schmitz.
Round 6, pick 193: Nick Barrett, DT, South Carolina
The Giants’ final pick comes from a 2024 trade that sent defensive lineman Jordan Phillips and a seventh-round pick (No. 221) to the Cowboys. The Giants moved up 28 spots in that pick swap, which puts them in position to continue beefing up the lines. The 6-foot-3, 312-pound Barrett is a run-stuffer who could serve as Dexter Lawrence’s backup at nose tackle.