The New York Giants made seven selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite having met several needs that remained despite their shocking playoff run in 2022, the seven players all faced struggles with either injuries or underproduction. This was so much so, in fact, that the team ranked among the very worst in the league when it came to production from rookies per PFF.
As the clock ticks ever closer to the 2024 NFL Draft, after a free agency period that yielded solid dividends, the team’s top three 2023 rookies deserve to have a second look after the team’s 6-11 campaign.
New York Giants Rookie Reveiw
Deonte Banks
After having missed out on all of the 2023 NFL Draft’s first-round caliber receivers, the New York Giants chose to slide back one selection to draft Deonte Banks. The headliner in the Giants draft class, Banks slotted right in from day one. A starter of 15 games, Banks only collected two interceptions amidst 64 tackles in a season where the Giants defense struggled under Wink Martindale.
Pro Football Focus assigned Deonte Banks a rookie grade of 48.6 for this season.
John Michael Schmitz Joined a Lackluster Offensive Line
The New York Giants and their offensive line struggles have been well-documented. Schmitz was drafted with the 57th overall pick in the 2023 draft and became a day-one starter on the offensive line. Schmitz didn’t find solid footing amidst an offensive line that struggled mightily with maintaining consistency amidst injuries and poor play. Even so, Schmitz will remain a face on new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo’s unit.
Schmitz was assigned a PFF pass block grade of 26.9 and a run block grade of 51.3.
Jalin Hyatt Underperformed
Hyatt was widely considered to be a first-round talent in the run-up to last year’s draft. He fell to the third round, a position where the Giants would trade up to grab him. Hyatt would switch from 84, his college number, to the number 13, a number made famous by Odell Beckham Jr. in Giants history.
In his rookie campaign, Hyatt only caught 23 passes. Whether this can be explained by inexperience or an otherwise lackluster offensive season is up to speculation, but Hyatt joined the list of Giants rookies who failed to produce in year one.
PFF assigned a receiving grade of 58.5 to Hyatt. Hyatt’s future in the Giants’ receiving core is yet to be determined, with the team considering all options with their number six overall pick, including another Wide Receiver.
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