As general manager Dave Gettleman says, free agency should put you in position to take the best player in the draft.
While veterans get resigned or reassigned this week, here we take a look at newcomers to the NFL. The New York Giants will have 10 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Last week, the league awarded 32 compensatory choices to 15 teams, including the Giants. They gained one selection in the third round (99th overall) and two in the seventh round (247th and 255th). That increased the team's total to 10, beginning with the fourth overall pick. They are set to end the three-day event with the final pick (No. 255), known affectionately as Mr. Irrelevant.
Below is a look at the latest mock drafts for the team at No. 4.
Pick: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Analysis: "Let's get Okudah to New York in this scenario, locking down one side of the field with the clear top corner in this class."
Pick: Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson
Analysis: "He was a factor in every single statistical area in 2019 for the Tigers, and his blazing 4.39-second time in the 40, wild 39-inch vertical and ridiculous 11-foot broad jump took Indianapolis by storm. It was one of the best workouts we've ever seen from a linebacker. A converted safety, Simmons fits what NFL teams are looking for today and can affect so many areas of the game. New York handed 28.2 points per game to opponents last season, more than all but two other teams. Let's jump start the defensive rebuild with a true difference-maker."
Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
Analysis: "Lots of good options here, but protecting QB Daniel Jones is the priority."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
Analysis: "There will be a lot of sentiment to take Clemson's do-everything defender Isaiah Simmons here, and that would be a terrific selection. But after drafting QB Daniel Jones last year, protecting him is a priority."
Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
Analysis: "Isaiah Simmons can play anywhere on defense, something he showed often at Clemson, and would give the Giants an athletic playmaker who can be a matchup problem for any type of offense. He's fast enough with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash to run with tight ends, cover slot receivers, chase down quarterbacks and generally make life miserable for offensive coordinators. While linebacker might not be the team's biggest need, Simmons is a position-less player with excellent ability to change a game defensively."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Analysis: "Of all the hog mollies in this draft, Mehki Becton is the hog molliest."
Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Analysis: "After what Simmons did at the combine -- which only reconfirmed what we saw during the 2019 season -- the Giants would be hard-pressed to let him go here. Yes, GM Dave Gettleman loves big bodies, but Simmons would solve a lot of problems on this defense."
Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Analysis: "Dave Gettleman's affinity for the "hog mollies" could lead the Giants to add an edge blocker to protect their young quarterback."
Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Analysis: "Rare height, weight, speed and versatility to be deployed in a variety of positions. He's only scratching the surface of his upside."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Analysis: "The Giants are committed to building through the trenches, and there's no larger building block in the draft class… literally. The 6-foot-7, 364-pound Becton scooted his way to a 5.1 second 40-yard dash over the weekend. While he hasn't been tested a ton in pass protection (73 true pass sets all year) and is raw as a prospect, Becton has rare physical tools to work with."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Analysis: "Becton is a rare prospect with his impressive blend of size, strength and athletic traits."
Pick: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Jeudy is a better prospect than every offensive tackle in this class. Rookies, especially rookie offensive linemen, don't fill pressing needs. Over the past five NFL seasons, only nine rookie offensive tackles have played 400-plus snaps and earned overall grades above 70.0. None have earned an overall grade above 82.0. Don't address pressing needs in the draft; just draft the best players available."
Pick: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
Analysis: "New coach Joe Judge seemed to be channeling general manager Dave Gettleman when he vowed the Giants would employ an "old-school, physical mentality." That mentality might push them toward Wills, a surprisingly fleet-footed protector who erases opponents in the run game."
Pick: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Analysis: "It pains me as a Jets fan to say it, but the Giants are building something pretty impressive. They'll have two young corners, the makings of a good defensive line, and lots of skill position talent."
Pick: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "The top of the 2020 NFL draft board is becoming clearer by the day, with top underclassmen declaring for April's selection process. Ohio State's Chase Young and Jeff Okudah and Alabama's Jerry Jeudy are among the potential top-10 prospects who have already stated their intentions. Projected No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow is a senior. As is Oregon's Justin Herbert, who might be the second quarterback off the board."
Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Analysis: "A two-year starter at right tackle for Alabama, Wills is a dominant run blocker who also improved significantly as a pass blocker in 2019."
Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Analysis: "The New York Giants are scheduled to make their third top-10 pick in as many seasons and faced with making another high-caliber decision. A strong case could be made that the Giants could elect to make a defensive selection here, but in the end, the mission of this offseason should be to protect their previous first-round investment in Daniel Jones. Jedrick Wills' strength, power and dominating demeanor fits the "hog molly" mantra that general manager Dave Gettleman has drafted in years past."
Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Analysis: "Jedrick Wills fits Gettleman's MO as a physical mauler up front. Wills can also be a plug and play starter on either side."
View photos from the college career of Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy.
Pick: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "While most casual fans are familiar with Tagovailoa by now, several may not be as familiar with Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. This isn't the case for fans who watched him in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day. Jeudy destroyed the Michigan defense, catching six passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. While this stat line may lead fans to believe that Jeudy is primarily a deep threat, his biggest asset may actually be his ability to generate separation with precision route-running. Even before Alabama's bowl game, Jeudy was trending as the top receiver in this draft class. He had little to gain by even playing in it, but his drive and determination should resonate with prospective NFL employers."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
Analysis: "Did you SEE this dude? He looks like Andy Reid in Punt, Pass and Kick out there playing football with other people. Dave Gettleman loves big bodies and no one is bigger than Becton, with the added bonus of it happening at a position of need for the Giants."
Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
Analysis: "This should be a no-brainer for the Giants given Wirfs supreme athletic gifts and two stellar seasons of play at left and right tackle for Iowa."
Pick: Jedrick Wills Jr., OL, Alabama
Analysis: "They take Wills and can address the other spot later in the draft."
Pick: Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson
Analysis: "The Giants also need to address defense with a stat-sheet stuffer, and a versatile linebacker is just what they need for their Patriots-tinged defense coordinated by Patrick Graham under Joe Judge. Simmons seemed to be all over the field at all times in college with great speed and range at 6-4, 230 pounds, and he also can get to the quarterback. He posted 104 tackles, 7 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions in 15 games."
Pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Analysis: "Thomas played both left and right tackle at Georgia. He will help fix Big Blue's O-line issues."
Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Analysis: "Slotting Isaiah Simmons is always a rather impossible task: You don't know exactly what position he's going to play or how it's going to look when he plays it."
Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Analysis: "Daniel Jones showed promise as a rookie, but he was sacked on 7.6 percent of his dropbacks and fumbled a whopping 18 times in 12 starts. As he enters his sophomore season, fortifying the offensive line in front of him should be a priority for general manager Dave Gettleman and Jedrick Wills' is a prospect I can see him falling in love with. Wills is an exceptional pass blocker with the power needed to generate vertical push in the run game. He can help Jones and star running back Saquon Barkley perform at their best."
Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Analysis: "The best pass protector in this class for a young quarterback? I think so. In fact, that will do quite nicely."
Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Analysis: "Tristan Wirfs was the biggest winner of the combine and jumps into the fourth-overall spot in this scenario. He's agile, athletic and powerful from the tackle position and can slide in right away on the right side to help protect Daniel Jones."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Analysis: "Despite being 6-7, 364 pounds, he's not only a remarkable athlete – he managed a 5.1 40-yard dash – but also a mauler with experience at both tackle spots. GM Dave Gettleman said at the combine the Giants are "open for business" at No. 4, yet they might be pretty hard to surrender the opportunity to enlist a player who could both protect QB Daniel Jones and blow open holes for RB Saquon Barkley. We all know Gettleman loves nothing more than a "hog molly" ... and Becton projects as Hogzilla."
Pick: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Analysis: "This is a spot that's generally plug and play with your favorite tackle of the class, but what if none end up being worth a top-five pick? Okudah is an unquestioned top-five talent to come in and solidify a secondary that needs a No. 1 corner."
Pick: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
Analysis: "Here's where it gets interesting. I strongly considered Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons here but couldn't quite pull the trigger. GM Dave Gettleman has never traded down in running seven drafts for two teams, so there's no little to expect that to happen here either. And in taking Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones in this range the past two seasons, Gettleman has cast his die. For those two players to be effective, the Giants need more effective blocking."
Pick: Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia
Analysis: "The draft-niks might not be as high on Thomas as the teams are, which is why I have him in this spot. The Giants need to improve their offensive line and he could play a couple of spots."
Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Analysis: "It's tough to see GM Dave Gettleman passing on a 364-pound tackle who can solidify the offensive line in front of the team's two previous top picks, QB Daniel Jones and RB Saquon Barkley."
Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
Analysis: "My model slots Wirfs as a right tackle on the Giants' roster, though he projects well on either side of the line (despite more college reps as an RT than LT). What stands out and drives his selection as my model's highest-rated offensive lineman? Wirfs combines a high probability of stopping edge pressure on passing downs and creating running-lane space on rushing downs from Day 1."
Previous Mock Drafts
View photos from the college career of Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah.
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