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:
The Giants finished with a very respectable 40 sacks last season (tied with Indianapolis for 10th in the NFL) but this number is deceiving as 11.5 of them came from Leonard Williams, with no one else contributing more than four. The power-packed Paye "only" registered 11.5 sacks himself over four years at Michigan, but he has the explosive traits and work ethic to suggest bigger things in the future.
You'll hear Giants GM Dave Gettleman is more open to trading back nowadays, but he still hasn't done it and I'm not sure he will. The Giants failed in their pursuit of Leonard Floyd after going crazy everywhere else in free agency, and they lock up the best edge rusher in this year's class.
The Giants will be looking for an edge rusher or a wide receiver, but Parsons, the best linebacker in this draft, would be tough to pass up. Linebacker has been an issue for the Giants for a while.
If the Giants want Daniel Jones to succeed, continuing to upgrade the offensive line with this pick will be attractive. There is no such thing as a "safe" prospect in the NFL Draft, but Vera-Tucker is viewed by many around the league as having low bust potential and a high floor. Personally, I would go Jaylen Waddle here, which is another realistic possibility.
Parsons fits a need for another playmaker on Patrick Graham's emerging defense. That unit ranked in the top 10 in yards per play and points allowed but was in the middle of the pack in turnovers. Parsons (19 career TFLs, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles) is a big-play threat.
The Giants also would have intel on Parsons that other teams don't: DL coach Sean Spencer, who was very close with Parsons at Penn State and could help vouch for his character, if needed.
This is an important season for quarterback Daniel Jones. Can he take a Josh Allen-esque leap in Year 3? To do so, he has to get better pass-catchers around him. That started with the Giants adding top wideout Kenny Golladay in free agency, and Waddle would give them the draft's best deep threat, a speedy playmaker who will also make an impact in the return game. I thought about edge rusher here as well.
The Giants have been aggressive and proactive in free agency, but they still have holes to fill. As much as giving Daniel Jones another weapon is a priority, Parsons fits what they need on defense and could be an immediate standout in both pass and run defense.
