The evaluation process for the 2021 NFL Draft has entered the home stretch.
With just one week to go until the first round kicks off in Cleveland, pro days have wrapped up around the country. For the past month, these on-campus workouts took the place of the Scouting Combine as NFL hopefuls showcased their skills in front of coaches, scouts, and general managers.
In addition, three teams shook up the draft order.
First, the 49ers acquired the No. 3 overall pick from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for San Francisco's 2021 first-round selection (No. 12), along with the 49ers' 2022 and 2023 first-round picks and a 2022 compensatory third-round draft pick.
Miami then acquired a 2021 first-round pick (No. 6) and a 2021 fifth-round pick (No. 156) from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick (No. 12), a 2021 fourth-round pick (No. 123) and a 2022 first-round pick.
Once the dust settled, this is what the 2021 draft order looked like.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- San Francisco 49ers (from Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans)
- Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles)
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins via San Francisco 49ers)
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)
- Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore Ravens
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
So, what does it all mean for the Giants at No. 11? Here are the latest mock drafts from media outlets across the country:
Pick: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Analysis: "Don't be shocked if the Giants go cornerback here. Yes, they have Adoree' Jackson and James Bradberry on the roster, but you can never have enough top-level CBs. Horn is viewed as just that. Giants fans may bristle at the team taking a corner over a WR, OT or pass rusher -- but I would not be surprised at all if it's Patrick Surtain or Horn."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "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."
Pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Even after the Giants' signing of Kenny Golladay, I still get the sense Big Blue wants more weapons. Smith is the best route runner in the draft."
Pick: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ILB, Notre Dame
Analysis: "I wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants look at USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, but they just took three linemen in the first five rounds last year, including Andrew Thomas at No. 4 overall. And while the defense was stellar last season, getting defensive coordinator Patrick Graham a versatile, rangy, fast, instinctive linebacker like Owusu-Koramoah will help keep it that way."
Pick: Gregory Rousseau , EDGE, Miami
Analysis: "Rousseau is an intriguing option for the Giants given his athleticism, length and sack production."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "The smart play might be to go with one of the premier edge rushers available at this spot, because it's truly a team need. You guys have already added Kenny Golladay, Kyle Rudolph and (checks notes) John Ross to the mix on offense, so going with Waddle might be considered overkill at this point. But I'm of the mind that you give Danny Dimes every available resource to be successful in this league."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "A strong case can be made for snagging an edge rusher here, but adding another talented playmaker for QB Daniel Jones makes sense, too."
Pick: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Analysis: "The Giants don't draft linebackers up high very often, but in those rare instances, they look like Micah Parsons. The last linebacker New York selected in Round 1 was Carl Banks in 1984, but Parsons has a chance to be a legitimate tone-setter in a modern-day defense — not just a throwback to an obsolete 1980s brand of football."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah updated his ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft for the final time before the start of the draft.
No. 50 Georgia CB Eric Stokes
No. 49 Oregon S Jevon Holland
No. 48 LSU WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
No. 47 Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg
No. 46 Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth
No. 45 Wisconsin-Whitewater IOL Quinn Meinerz
No. 44 Oklahoma EDGE Ronnie Perkins
No. 43 Alabama DT Christian Barmore
No. 42 Houston EDGE Payton Turner
No. 41 Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman
No. 40 Alabama IOL Landon Dickerson
No. 39 Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr.
No. 38 Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw
No. 37 North Dakota State OT Dillon Radunz
No. 36 Oklahoma State OT Teven Jenkins
No. 35 Michigan OT Jalen Mayfield
No. 34 Missouri LB Nick Bolton
No. 33 Washington EDGE Joe Tryon
No. 32 Alabama QB Mac Jones
No. 31 Penn State EDGE Jayson Oweh
No. 30 Georgia EDGE Azeez Ojulari
No. 29 Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike
No. 28 Florida WR Kadarius Toney
No. 27 Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II
No. 26 Mississippi WR Elijah Moore
No. 25 North Carolina RB Javonte Williams
No. 24 Tulsa LB Zaven Collins
No. 23 Kentucky LB Jamin Davis
No. 22 Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley
No. 21 Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips
No. 20 Alabama RB Najee Harris
No. 19 Clemson RB Travis Etienne
No. 18 Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau
No. 17 Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye
No. 16 TCU S Trevon Moehrig
No. 15 Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
No. 14 South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn
No. 13 USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
No. 12 Penn State LB Micah Parsons
No. 11 Oregon OT Penei Sewell
No. 10 Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater
No. 9 Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II
No. 8 Ohio State QB Justin Fields
No. 7 North Dakota State QB Trey Lance
No. 6 Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
No. 5 Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle
No. 4 BYU QB Zach Wilson
No. 3 LSU WR Ja'Marr Chase
No. 2 Florida TE Kyle Pitts
No. 1 Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
Pick: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
Analysis: "The Giants have alleviated the need to force a pick at wide receiver thanks to their mega-deal with Kenny Golladay and the additional signing of John Ross."
Pick: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Analysis: "[Signing Golladay] might take them out of the receiver class and into the corner class."
Pick: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Analysis: "New York has to be thinking offense with this pick and general manager Dave Gettleman appears focused in free agency on adding to the skill positions, opening the door for another investment on a hog molly for the offensive line, especially with the departure of Kevin Zeitler."
Pick: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
Analysis: "The lineman with five position flexibility arrives in the Big Apple as a player that could fill a hole at center or guard."
Pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
Analysis: "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."
Pick: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Analysis: "Dream scenario here, as the Giants get a chance to choose between electric speed (Jaylen Waddle) and matchup talent (Pitts). I see them taking the latter."
Pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Typically, GM Dave Gettleman would look to improve the front seven with this pick. But Smith's value is too high to ignore, despite his lean frame. Gettleman's first-round pick from two years ago, quarterback Daniel Jones, will appreciate the explosive, tough and reliable Smith."
Pick: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Analysis: "The Giants, who desperately need an outside pass rusher, take advantage of Paye being available here."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Waddle is the first Alabama wide receiver off the board in part due to the deep speed that showed up in his averaging 18.9 yards per reception over his three-year career. Waddle was actually the highest-graded Alabama receiver on their loaded 2018 team. He adds a vertical weapon for QB Daniel Jones, who was quietly one of the best downfield passers in the league a year ago."
Pick: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Analysis: "The Giants have had an excellent offseason adding Kenny Golladay, Adoree' Jackson, and re-signing some of their key players. I always liked the idea of the Giants taking either Waddle or DeVonta Smith here, and to be honest, I am not totally against taking a receiver even after the Golladay addition. In the end, I believe the Giants will turn to their defense and add a playmaker who can help get the ball back to their offense. Parsons is a top-seven player in this year's draft and is one of the best linebackers prospects to come out in the last few years. He has outstanding size, speed, burst, and range and is equally productive against the run and the pass. He would be a tremendous fit for Patrick Graham's multiple front defense and has the physical and tough attitude that head coach Joe Judge appreciates."
Pick: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
Analysis: "We would take DeVonta Smith but Dave Gettleman likes big guys, which is why we won't be shocked if Rashawn Slater (who we also like a lot) is the pick here."
Pick: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Analysis: "They could easily go with Jaylen Waddle here, but Paye is also a playmaker — he just plays on the other side of the ball. Raw but incredibly talented, Paye would represent a significant upgrade at edge for the Giants."
Pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "QB Daniel Jones could certainly use better protection after getting sacked 45 times in 14 games last season, but giving him an electric wideout like Smith might also make teams think twice about blitzing."
Pick: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Analysis: "The Giants struck gold last offseason with the acquisition of James Bradberry in free agency, and there was some temptation to take another corner here to fortify a strength. However, given the value proposition of elite edge players taken high in the draft relative to what they are paid as veterans at the top end, Paye is an athletic bet the Giants need to make here to secure their first elite edge defender in quite some time."
Pick: Zaven Collins, EDGE, Tulsa
Analysis: "Another surprise in the top half of Round 1. Collins has the size, athleticism, and three-down ability to make GM Dave Gettleman fall in love with his potential on the field."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Waddle, like his Crimson Tide teammate Smith, is a highly skilled all-around receiver the Giants could use to run all the routes and get open everywhere outside for Daniel Jones. He could easily take over as the "X" go-to guy in New York, with Sterling Shepard sliding back into his best position as the "Y" in the slot and Darius Slayton settling into the big-play threat "Z"."
Pick: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Analysis: "First things first, the chances of Sewell actually falling this far are slim. But this mock represents what I would do and not what the NFL would do, so a generational tackle falls right in the lap of New York here at Pick 11. Sewell recorded a 95.8 PFF grade in 2019, which still stands as the highest-graded season by a Power 5 tackle since 2014. At 6-foot-6, 325-pounds, it's quite amazing watching Sewell move in space — the overall athleticism is off the charts. He earned a 95.7 grade as a run-blocker in 2019 and was also nearly perfect in pass protection, allowing just seven pressures on 491 snaps."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "With Kenny Golladay signed, the WR room is strong—but Waddle brings it to another level."
Pick: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Analysis: "Mocking an athletic tight end early for the Giants will give many pause, but whether it's WR or TE, don't get caught up in the two letters in front of Pitts' name. He's an "all of the above" player that can satisfy the roles of both a wide receiver and tight end. A serviceable blocker and unique weapon in the passing game, he has the potential to quickly turn into one of the more dangerous players at the position during the early stages of his career."
Pick: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Analysis: "Slater is more than capable of beginning his NFL career at guard on a team that boasts Will Hernandez (58.1 PFF grade in 2020), Shane Lemieux (32.2) and the recently signed Zach Fulton (63.0) as its current top options at the position. Slater's athleticism and clean technique give him a real chance of having success outside at tackle despite being undersized for the position, as well."
Pick: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Analysis: "As Daniel Jones enters Year 3, the Giants have to find him a go-to weapon. Pitts is much more than a tight end. He's a versatile offensive weapon who can play outside, in the slot or in-line and is a matchup nightmare."
Pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "DeVonta Smith's reported weight (170 pounds) shouldn't keep the Giants from pulling the trigger on the Heisman Trophy winner if he falls into their laps at No. 11 overall."
Pick: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
Analysis: "They helped their team in some critical spots in free agency, mostly corner and receiver, and now they can address another major problem by taking an edge rusher."
Pick: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Analysis: "New York needs edge defenders and we all know how much Dave Gettleman likes to draft linemen. While this is a little rich for Kwity Paye for most, Gettleman ultimately decides the upside is too great to pass up, aligns him next to Leonard Williams, and allows the duo to go hunt quarterbacks."
Pick: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Analysis: "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
Pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC
Analysis: "I think the Giants will love Smith, so they will likely have their eyes on him (sorry, Eagles fans). But if Smith is gone before No. 11, I think they'll take their attention to the trenches and get one of the most reliable and versatile offensive linemen in the class in Vera-Tucker."
Pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Smith is my WR1 because his consistent route running and ability to earn separation give him the highest projected floor and ceiling in this class. The Heisman Trophy winner had the highest percentage of receptions in which he had more than 3 feet of separation at the time of the catch despite a defender being within 3 feet of him on the path of the route. This vision carries over into yards after the catch; his ability to increase his speed once he had the ball in his hands was the third-best in FBS this season."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "With Kenny Golladay demanding attention outside, Waddle could run wild across the middle of the field."
Pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Analysis: "Waddle gives the Giants a speedy field-stretcher who will open things up for Kenny Golladay and Evan Engram. The Alabama prospect adds return ability, as well as the juice to take a slant to the house."
Pick: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
Analysis: "Though he's a tick undersized, one talent evaluator said Slater is one of the most technically sound offensive linemen he's ever scouted."
