NEWSLETTER
After taking a step backward during the second season under Brian Daboll, the New York Giants 2024 NFL Draft was a crucial step in their hopes of returning to competitiveness. General Manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll were tasked with deciding if Daniel Jones was still their guy at QB or if they were hitting the reset button once again. Let’s examine what Big Blue accomplished in the recent draft and give the Giants a grade for their efforts.
New York Giants NFL Draft Grade: B
As we alluded to, the Giants’ biggest offseason decision centered around incumbent quarterback Daniel Jones. The addition of Drew Lock further clouded the situation and had many draft experts thinking the Giants would perhaps target one of the top available passers in this year’s draft. Beyond the quarterback position, the G-Men faced questions that needed answering at many spots, most of which they answered during the three days in Detroit.
Apparently, the New York brass was willing to give Jones at least one more season to prove his status and made sure to give him more help in doing so. The Giants, holding the 6th pick in the NFL Draft could have gone in a multitude of directions depending on what the Chargers did ahead of them. Thus, the LA Chargers’ decision to take tackle Joe Alt at five made the choice easy for the Giants to begin a less-than-flashy but successful draft we think deserves a B.
| Draft Pick | Selection |
|---|---|
| Rd 1 – pick 6 | Malik Nabers, WR – LSU |
| Rd 2 – pick 47 | Tyler Nubin, S – Minnesota |
| Rd 3 – Pick 70 | Andru Phillips, CB – Kentucky |
| Rd 4 – pick 107 | Theo Johnson, TE – Penn State |
| Rd 5 – pick 166 | Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB – Purdue |
| Rd 6 – pick 183 | Darius Muasau, LB – UCLA |
Big Blue Finds Its Alpha
The New York Giants selected LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers at No.6 overall sending a clear message about their future offensively. Nabers, a consensus top-five talent with game-changing speed and elite route-running ability, was even discussed as possibly being the top receiver in the class by some. He instantly becomes the Giants’ most explosive offensive weapon since Odell Beckham Jr and gives Daniel Jones his first true No.1 wide receiver.
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Trying to Improve a Poor Secondary
After grabbing Malik Nabers in the first round, the Giants immediately focused on shoring up their less-than-average secondary. In the second round (47th overall), they selected safety Tyler Nubin from Minnesota. Nubin is known for his strong tackling ability and well-rounded skillset, which should grant him significant playing time early on.
In the third round (70th overall), the Giants opted for cornerback Andru Phillips out of Kentucky. Phillips is a versatile defensive back who can play both slot corner and outside. Cornerback was an area of great concern for New York and one of the Giants’ top NFL Draft Priorities. Phillips lacks overall experience having just two full seasons of gameplay, but he should challenge returning players for field time.
Looking to the Future
New York addressed depth and potential with their final three picks starting with tight end Theo Johnson out of Kentucky. He was quite possibly the Giants’ top overall value in the draft. Grading out as the 2nd most athletic player at the position during the NFL Combine and projecting to go as high as the third round. If he develops into a real downfield threat, Big Blue’s passing attack might finally arrive.
To close out the 2024 NFL Draft and cap their class, New York took the uber-athletic running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. out of Purdue and undersized yet relentless linebacker Darius Muasau from UCLA. Neither player is expected to play a major role right away but improves the Giants’ depth at the respective positions no doubt.
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Overall, the Giants’ 2024 draft class is a clear statement of intent. By selecting Nabers early, they’ve given Jones a game-changing weapon and signaled their commitment to Daniel for at least one more season. The other selections provide depth and competition, while also addressing specific needs on defense where they struggled last year. Overall, the G-Men accomplished their pre-draft goals but only Nabers projects as an immediate impact starter so they get a good passing grade of B.
