Metlife, NJ—There were seventeen prospects confirmed to attend the 2023 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light in Kansas City. The NY Giants have 10 picks in this year draft and have the 25th pick in the first round.
Joe Shoen In The Draft: With a year under his belt with the NY Giants, Shoen and his team have shown they can make the NFL Draft work in their favor, striking gold with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal, and Daniel Bellinger in 2022. They carrying the lucky rabbit foot in this year draft.
On the move to trade up to pick 24 (Shoen)
The way it went down and the way the board fell, we were getting depleted.
So it was the right thing to do for us. We do a lot of research on team needs, and what people need behind us, and including the team that we traded with. So that was a scenario we put together early in the day if we got there, and we were worried about anybody else coming up to that position. We had something in place with Jacksonville and it worked out.”
The Giants’ offensive line finished with a Pro Football Focus Pass Blocking Efficiency of 82.8, 26th in the league. That’s worse than the 2021 ranking of 83.5, which was 23rd in the league. The G-Men also allowed 212 total pressures in 2022, up from the 190 allowed the year prior. GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll made a conscientious effort to improve in a few areas (Cornerback, Center, and Wide Receiver and they did that in the first three picks.
Deonte Banks
The G-Men needed to find a lockdown corner and didn’t have to look to far down 95 south for Maryland corner Deonte Banks. In the first round, Schoen moved up one spot, from 25 to 24, to draft Banks.
Banks has the speed to run and match receivers down the field. Has loose hips and very good body control to sink his hips to get in and out of breaks. He tackles very well in the open field.
He is great at squeezing receivers to the sideline and getting his head around to find the ball. Plays the ball well in the air.
“I’m here to play football. I feel like I’ve got a mentality just for me to try to be better at every play. I try to be aggressive, and I try to use my superpower, which is my physicality.”
John Michael Schmitz
The Giants drafted a mauler at center John Michael Schmitz with the 57th pick of the second round. He was a three-time All Big Ten player, considered to be an outstanding run blocker who loves to drive his opponents to the turf.
He made all the adjustment line calls at Minnesota and he will be definitely comfortable on this level. Definitely a plug and play guy from the jump.
“I always thought it was definitely a possibility to go with the Giants, and I’m so happy to be a part of this team. I’m ready to get to work, that’s what I told the coaches when we first talked. I’m so excited.”
Jalin Hyatt
The Giants drafted Jalin Hyatt the speedy wide receiver for Tennessee with the 73rd pick.
Last year as a starter for the Vols, Hyatt hauled in 67 passes for 1,267 yards – a average of 18.8 yards power reception and 15 touchdowns.
He scorched the Alabama for five touchdown passes and had all the scouts googling over him afterwards.
“I feel like I’m probably the best deep threat receiver in the draft. I really do believe that, and Giants they really got a playmaker, they got a dynamic playmaker, an explosive playmaker – and that’s what I want to bring and add to the team.”
Giants draft picks 2023:
- Round 1, Pick No. 24: —Deonte Banks-DB (Maryland)
- Round 2, Pick No. 57: —John Michael Schmitz-C (Minnesota)
- Round 3, Pick No. 89:- Jalin Hyatt-WR (Tennessee)
- Round 4, Pick No. 128: —
- Round 5, Pick No. 160: —
- Round 5, Pick No. 172: (Compensatory) —
- Round 6, Pick No. 209:—
- Round 7, Pick No. 240: —
- Round 7, Pick No. 243: —
- Round 7, Pick No. 254: (Compensatory)—
