Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our New York Giants Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the New York Giants from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Giants:
EDSFootball - Hanson (3/5)
11. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
In the previous iteration of this mock, the Giants selected Alabama's Jaylen Waddle. With Waddle (and the top three receivers) off the board, Gettleman still gives Daniel Jones another weapon.
A mismatch in the passing game, Pitts is a top-four prospect on our big board so it's possible that he's the best prospect available on Gettleman's in this scenario as well. A playmaker in the mold of Darren Waller, Pitts won the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end, and was the first tight end ever to be a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Pitts had 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2020.
A mismatch in the passing game, Pitts is a top-four prospect on our big board so it's possible that he's the best prospect available on Gettleman's in this scenario as well. A playmaker in the mold of Darren Waller, Pitts won the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end, and was the first tight end ever to be a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Pitts had 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2020.
ESPN - McShay (3/4)
11. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Giants have to give this offense more to work with. They were one of four teams to average fewer than five yards per play last season, and their 5.9 yards per pass attempt ranked No. 29. However, Waddle's 18.9 yards per catch over the past two seasons ranked eighth in the country. There isn't a more dangerous player with the ball in his hands in the draft class, thanks to excellent top-end speed, vision and elusiveness. And I hope Nick Saban has been glued to his TV because that's four straight Alabama players off the board, including two first-round receivers for the second time in two years.
Jordan Raanan on his fit with the Giants: Waddle can immediately slot into the Giants' three-receiver sets alongside Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. He would essentially step into the role that the recently released Golden Tate played last season but provide a big-play ability that the offense was missing. Plus, Waddle would contribute immediately on special teams as a returner.
Jordan Raanan on his fit with the Giants: Waddle can immediately slot into the Giants' three-receiver sets alongside Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. He would essentially step into the role that the recently released Golden Tate played last season but provide a big-play ability that the offense was missing. Plus, Waddle would contribute immediately on special teams as a returner.
CBS Sports - Trapasso (3/3)
11. Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Dave Gettleman loves throwing everyone for a loop in the draft, and he does so again with Toney here, although the Florida product is precisely the type of playmaker Danny Dimes needs.
The Athletic - Beat Writers (3/1)
11. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
There would be some angst in the Giants draft room if the top three wide receivers were off the board by No. 11. Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater is intriguing because the Giants offensive line is far from a finished product, and Parsons would be attractive as a potential game-changing defensive player. But owner John Mara and general manager Dave Gettleman have made no secret of their intention to add offensive playmakers. Pitts fits that profile. The 6-foot-6, 246-pound tight end/wide receiver is the matchup nightmare Evan Engram was supposed to be. An offense with Pitts, a healthy Saquon Barkley and a potential top free-agent wide receiver would be far more formidable than the unit that finished 31st in scoring last season. -- Dan Duggan
Touchdown Wire - Farrar (2/26)
11. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said in January that it's his goal to surround quarterback Daniel Jones with more playmakers, and if this is the way the draft falls, Gettleman could do far worse than selecting Waddle with the eleventh overall pick.
Yeah, one wrong move with this guy, and you'll be eating his dust. Waddle played just six games in 2020 due to an ankle injury, but he still posted 28 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns. A ridiculously explosive player on everything from sweep handoffs to deep posts, Waddle caught five of six targets of 20 or more air yards for 146 yards and two touchdowns. The only question here would be whether Daniel Jones could hit those deep posts (especially under pressure), but any offensive coordinator should be able to find ways for Waddle to blow opposing defenses up.
Yeah, one wrong move with this guy, and you'll be eating his dust. Waddle played just six games in 2020 due to an ankle injury, but he still posted 28 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns. A ridiculously explosive player on everything from sweep handoffs to deep posts, Waddle caught five of six targets of 20 or more air yards for 146 yards and two touchdowns. The only question here would be whether Daniel Jones could hit those deep posts (especially under pressure), but any offensive coordinator should be able to find ways for Waddle to blow opposing defenses up.
NFL.com - Casserly (2/25)
11. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Big Blue's offense looks a lot different with a healthy Saquon Barkley and Waddle on the field.
MLive.com - Meinke (2/25)
11. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The injury hurt him last year, but he's a staggering talent when healthy. Waddle racked up 17 touchdowns in 34 career games, averaged 18.9 yards per catch, and ranked inside the top five in the country in yards per route (3.64) and yards after the catch (11.5) the last two seasons according to PFF.
San Diego Union Tribune (2/24)
11. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Golden Tate is a potential cap casualty (the Giants would save $8.5 million if he's cut after June 1). The Heisman winner actually had a better statistical season than 2020 first-rounders Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy last year -- who both were top-15 picks -- leading the Crimson Tide with 1,256 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith took his game to another level after Waddle was sidelined -- he had 1,300 yards on 72 receptions and 19 touchdowns in his last eight games. The only blemish is his size.
Previous update: New York Giants Mock Draft Roundup 5.0
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