After another disappointing season that saw them finish 6-10, the New York Giants kick off their 2021 NFL Draft with the 11th pick overall. They are without a fifth-round pick (owed to the Jets from the Leonard Williams trade) and a seventh-round pick (sent to Denver for cornerback Isaac Yiadom).
The Giants do, however, possess two sixth-round picks. They acquired one extra from the Cardinals when they traded defensive end Markus Golden. The Giants have needs throughout the entire roster. With the recent release of veteran wide receiver Golden Tate and rumors that contract talks with defensive lineman Williams have hit a snag, they must come away from this draft with talent in those two respective positions.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 11: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Smith is coming off arguably the best single-season by a wide receiver in NCAA history. He finished the year with 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. He set numerous records in the National Championship game while posting a jaw-dropping 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone.
Smith is a savvy route runner and a YAC monster, electric with the ball in his hands. The Giants have lacked a true alpha wideout since sending Odell Beckham Jr. packing. This pick gives them the “X” receiver they desperately need to pair with Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton.
The only knock on Smith is his frame (6’1″, 174 lbs). His decision to skip weigh-ins at the Senior Bowl has sent up some red flags to teams. Historically speaking, receivers with his build have not been overly productive at the professional level. The last three receivers taken in the first round weighing in at less than 175 lbs are Marquise Brown, Tavon Austin, and Ted Ginn Jr. The jury is still out on Brown, but Austin and Ginn never quite lived up to their draft pedigree. If the Giants are concerned about Smith, it might be in their best interest to pursue a trade back, acquire more picks, and take Rashod Bateman.
Round 2, Pick 42: Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State
The Giants have some major personnel decisions to make on their defensive line. DT Dalvin Tomlinson is a free agent. Contract talks with Williams have seemingly come to an impasse, and Giants.com currently lists Dexter Lawrence and R.J. McIntosh as their only defensive ends. That’s not good enough. Oweh is tall (6’5″) and lean (253 lbs) and possesses rare physical traits for someone of his size. There are whispers that he could run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash at Penn State’s pro day at the end of March. He has the burst and bend necessary to excel at the next level but is inexperienced (just 20 games played) and needs to work on his technique and pass rush moves.
This pick makes a ton of sense. The downside is there will likely be a learning curve for Oweh. He may not be much of an immediate impact player. However, with proper coaching and his physical gifts, he could very well join the ranks of Strahan, Umenyiora, and Tuck as star edge rushers taken by the Giants on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
For more on Jayson Oweh, check out our scouting report on him here.
Round 3, Pick 76: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
The Giants splash free-agent signing of 2020 was CB James Bradberry, and he rewarded the team with a Pro Bowl season. Since 2016, the Giants have invested two first-round picks and a third-rounder to bolster their secondary. Unfortunately, Eli Apple, Sam Beal, and Deandre Baker were all busts. The addition of Melifonwu helps them shore up a position they have actively been trying to fix for years.
Melifonwu was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in 2017. He is an alumnus of Syracuse University, a school the Giants have a long history with. At 6’3″ and 214 lbs, he has some intriguing physical traits. He often uses his impressive wingspan to break up passes. He is fast, fluid in coverage, and contains the size and strength to stuff WRs at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. After his Senior Bowl performance, he very well may have played himself into the bottom of round two. To get him with this pick is a steal.
For more on Ifeatu Melifonwu, check out our scouting report on him here.
Round 4, Pick 116: Ben Cleveland, IOL, Georgia
The Giants’ offensive line seemed to coalesce down the stretch last year and played much better as a unit in the second half of the season. GM Dave Gettleman has made it his personal mission to fix the team’s blocking issues, but several question marks still exist. Nate Solder opted out in 2020 and will be returning. 2018 second-round draft pick Will Hernandez was benched last season after a stint on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Starting guard Kevin Zeitler is starting to show his age.
Enter Georgia guard Cleveland. At 6’6″ and 354 lbs, he certainly looks the part. Cleveland began his college career as a four-star recruit but wasn’t a mainstay in the starting lineup until his senior season. He did, however, make the best of his opportunity and was recognized as a first-team ALL-SEC lineman for his play. Cleveland was invited to the Senior Bowl but was unable to improve his draft stock as a sprained ankle kept him sidelined all but day one. This is a great high-upside pick in the fourth round at a position of need.
Round 6, Pick 198: Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
The Giants addressed WR with their first selection of the draft, but given the state of the position, it’s easy to justify double-dipping. Fehoko is a developmental prospect with tantalizing physical traits. At 6’4″, 227, and with a knack for going up to get the ball at its highest point, Fehoko could become a reliable red-zone target.
He’s not the savviest route runner, but his above-average speed gives him the ability to create separation on go routes. Fehoko plays with the physicality expected of someone of his stature. He’s not afraid to catch the ball in traffic. After taking Smith in round one, the Giants now have some size and speed to pair with Shepard.
Round 6, Pick 202: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo
Saquon Barkley is amazing when he is on the field. Once teams began game-planning for Wayne Gallman, it became obvious that he was not a true feature back. Shoring up the backfield is a priority for the Giants.
This may be their best pick in the draft. Patterson is a veritable bowling bowl while toting the rock. At 5’9″ and 195, he conjures thoughts of Maurice Jones-Drew. The vision is above-average, and he has the speed to get through the hole fast. His talents were on full display against Kent State, where he rushed for 409 yards (above) and eight touchdowns. Patterson is a great complement to whoever is the starter for the Giants moving forward.
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