NFL Draft Day 2: Names to Watch for New York Giants

Entering the 2023 NFL Draft, the New York Giants had three significant needs to address: wide receiver, interior offensive line, and defensive secondary.

In the first round, the Giants addressed the secondary, trading up one spot to No. 24 with the Jacksonville Jaguars to select cornerback Deonte Banks 24th overall.

What about the rest of the needs? There's still plenty of talent in Rounds 2 and 3, and the Giants aren't necessarily limited to adding an interior offensive lineman and/or receiver (though we think that will be the direction they go).

They can continue to upgrade the secondary while adding some much-needed wide receiver depth and an interior offensive lineman to complement a developing homegrown line.

Here are some names to watch for the Giants on Day 2 of the NFL draft.

IOL Steve Avila, TCU

Steve Avila, a 6-foot-4, 332-pound behemoth, would be an ideal interior offensive lineman to complement the Giants’ run-heavy offense. NFL.com draft analysts praised Avila for his strength and footwork, calling him “a solid starter right away.”

His blocking power is so great that he can easily drive opposing defensive linemen up and away from the line of scrimmage, which should allow him to create excellent holes for Saquon Barkley to run through.

His pass-blocking ability isn’t lacking, either, as he has a quick reaction time and easily anchors. With this combination of power and agility, Avila would be a great addition to New York’s developing offensive line.

C John Michael Schmitz

Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz is regarded as the best pure center in this draft class and has just about everything you could want in a starting center. According to NFL.com's scouting report, he still needs to develop his drive power and get to second-level targets.

Regardless, the sixth-year senior is as smart and polished as they come. He is quick off the snap, with hands, with feet, a d is very sticky once he gets his hands on you. Schmitz still could stand to add some upper body mass. But he's a patient pass blocker and a great combo run blocker. 

C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin

The Giants are looking for a new starting center for the long term, and Joe Tippmann could fill that need. Although not an overpowering force like Avila, Tippmann is great at standing his ground and not letting defensive linemen push him back.

At 6-foot-6, Tippmann is taller than most other centers, but his athleticism is excellent, being very quick out of his stance and strong enough to turn defenders around.

Tippmann’s best asset, however, is his awareness; ESPN’s analysis notes that he “has great awareness identifying twists, stunts, and blitzes.”

WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss

Jonathan Mingo’s biggest strength as a wide receiver is, fittingly, his strength. A 6-foot-2 and 220-pound wideout, Mingo has fantastic ball security, excels at hauling in balls thrown in contested coverage, and is very difficult to tackle in the open field.

To further complement all of this, Mingo is as fast as anyone, being proficient at tracking down deep balls with great vertical route-running. Considering the Giants’ lack of receiving depth in general, Mingo can quickly find a spot on the team.

WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

Jalin Hyatt’s calling card is his superb playmaking ability, being a true deep threat. The Giants were near the bottom of the league in explosive pass plays, but Hyatt’s speed should help fix that.

After making catches, he isn’t the type of receiver who can break tackles but rather one who can outrun the secondary with ease. Hyatt can still evolve as a route-runner, so hopefully, the Giants’ coaching staff can tap into his maximum potential.

S Brian Branch, Alabama

The loss of Julian Love in free agency has opened a hole in the Giants’ secondary. Although the selection of Deonte Banks addressed the cornerback position, Brian Branch would be the one who fills the vacancy that Love left.

As a cover safety, Branch can match up well with most receivers and is fantastic at stopping the run, which should help fix New York’s poor run defense. As a bonus, Branch can blitz extremely well, which bodes well for a player in a Wink Martindale schemed defense.