The end of the season for the New York Giants didn’t benefit them when it comes to draft position. The team won their final game but thanks to the result in Philadelphia versus Washington, they didn’t make it into the playoffs. With this combination of events, the Giants missed out on a playoff game and fell in draft position at the same time, and they’re now set to pick at number eleven overall.
However, that doesn’t mean the Giants can’t still snag a big impact player at this position. And while they won’t have the first pick from the best prospects at the position, they may be able to fix their need for a major player at wide receiver by taking this year’s Heisman winner. That’s the outcome predicted by CBS Sports in their latest mock draft.
New York graciously welcomes the Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most productive wide receivers that college football has ever seen. Devonta Smith is a polished performer and, by all accounts, a grounded young man that should pay immediate dividends for Joe Judge.
The Giants are mocked as taking Devonta Smith with the 11th pick, following his campaign that saw him crowned the top college football player in the country. While his draft profile isn’t as strong as LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Smith has still consistently been an impact player for Alabama who has made iconic plays in multiple years and most notably caught the national championship winning pass against Georgia.
There is, of course, a connection between Alabama and the Giants. Head coach Joe Judge is familiar with the way that Alabama does things, having coached there under Nick Saban. Judge will likely have a lot of say in who the Giants draft, and there’s a chance he might approve of drafting Smith. After all, Judge is familiar with exactly what the Giants are getting if they pick someone from Nick Saban’s system.
With 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and an appearance in the national championship game coming up, Smith’s college numbers show that he’s ready to make an instant impact in the NFL. And with the Giants needing to turn the corner soon, such a receiver could be a crucial addition to their offense.