One of the most distinct features of the early NFL offseason is the mock draft, and USA Today’s Draft Wire has already released their first four round mock of the offseason. The mock includes the predicted pick for the New York Giants, who after finishing the season with five wins, will have the number six overall selection in the draft.
Many within the fanbase believe that the Giants would do well to take a defensive lineman with their first selection, but if the Draft Wire mock is an accurate prediction, some of the better ones in this year’s class would have already been selected by the time the giants are on the clock.
The mock has the New York Jets taking Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen with the third overall pick, but realistically, Allen isn’t predicted to last until the sixth pick either way. However, they have the Raiders taking Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver at number four, and Oliver is a player that has been mocked to the Giants by other sources. There are other possible players on the defensive line that the Giants could select, but they would likely be taking a step down in quality.
Instead of a defensive lineman, this mock draft has the Giants taking Dwayne Haskins Jr., from Ohio State. Haskins, of course, was one of the top quarterbacks in the country during the college season and was one of the finalists for the Heisman trophy. In one season as the starter, he threw for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns to only 8 interceptions, leading Ohio State to a Rose Bowl win in Urban Meyer’s final season as a head coach.
Those accomplishments, and his arm, make Haskins a more attractive option than others who started off ranked higher in the draft class, such as Will Grier or NC State’s Ryan Finley.
But Haskins hasn’t declared for the draft just yet and it’s possible that he won’t be an option at all once the event finally happens in April. With Haskins recently sending a cryptic Tweet that could indicate intentions to return to school, the Giants might just have to look elsewhere.