ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. releases updated mock draft
With the start of free agency less than two weeks away, all 32 NFL clubs are using this week's NFL Combine as an opportunity to assess the league's incoming talent. In conjunction, front offices are looking at avenues for addressing roster-specific needs in 2023 and beyond.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently released an updated mock draft predicting how each organization will approach the first-round. Notably, Kiper delineated three trades in the top five picks alone, with the Chicago Bears cashing in on a trade for their highly-coveted first overall selection.
Kiper also altered his prediction for the Giants' first-round pick at number 25. Last month, he named USC WR Jordan Addison as the likeliest choice. And though Kiper still anticipates a wide out heading to New York 25th overall, he named a new receiver for that accolade – TCU's Quentin Johnston.
"Johnston is the big, fast and physical receiver they need," Kiper admitted.
In three seasons at TCU, Johnston eclipsed 115 receptions for 2,190 receiving yards and 14 scores, adding two more rushing touchdowns. He was named a 2022 semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation's leading collegiate receiver.
Johnston shattered all-time records as a freshman in 2020, posting the highest single-season yards per catch average by a true freshman in Big 12 history (22.1 yards-per-catch).
Kiper noted that Johnston's sizable frame makes him a good fit with the Giants' current receiving corps.
"At 6-foot-4, he is tremendous after the catch, breaking tackles and running for long touchdowns," Kiper added. "He understands how to use his frame to high-point the ball in the air. (Quarterback Daniel) Jones has improved every season, but he has never had a player who can make contested catches like Johnston. (General manager Joe) Schoen should make this happen in April."
Kiper's praise for Johnston extended into his concurrently-released 2023 prospect position rankings. The draft analyst positioned Johnston as the third-best receiver, just behind Boston College's Zay Flowers and Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, respectively.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah updated his ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
No. 49 Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
No. 48 John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota
No. 40 Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
No. 47 Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
No. 37 Steve Avila, IOL, TCU
No. 46 Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
No. 45 Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
No. 44 Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
No. 43 Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
No. 42 Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
No. 38 Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
No. 39 Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State
No. 36 Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
No. 41 O'Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
No. 35 BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
No. 27 Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
No. 34 Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin
No. 32 Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
No. 31 Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
No. 30 Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU
No. 29 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
No. 28 Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
No. 26 Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
No. 25 Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
No. 33 Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
No. 24 Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
No. 21 Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
No. 22 Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
No. 20 Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
No. 23 Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
No. 17 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
No. 13 Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
No. 19 Broderick Jones, OT Georgia
No. 16 Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
No. 18 Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
No. 14 Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
No. 15 Jordan Addison, WR, USC
No. 12 Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
No. 10 Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
No. 11 Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
No. 9 Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
No. 8 Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
No. 7 C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
No. 5 Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
No. 6 Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
No. 4 Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
No. 3 Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
No. 2 Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
No. 1 Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Around the NFL
View photos from Giants Media Day as GM Joe Schoen spoke to the media from the NFL Combine.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Schoen addresses the media at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
