The 2024 NFL Draft is 21 days away and the Dallas Cowboys front office is diligently preparing for the big day.
Dallas doesn't draft until the bottom fourth of the first round but few expect them to stay put with the 24th pick.
Free agency has left the Cowboys roster without 13 key contributors on the field, and the only addition besides re-signing a few of their own players has been LB Eric Kendricks.
Cowboys Nation has been up in arms about the lack of activity from a front office that recklessly used the term “all-in” when they had no intention of the phrase meaning the same as it means to most other people.
Now the Cowboys have to rely on the draft to fill those holes that free agency left.
Other teams draft, too, and the Cowboys have a target on their backs after stealing the NFC East crown from a collapsing Philadelphia Eagles team.
Yesterday, I started a series of mock drafting for the opposing teams in the division, starting with the Washington Commanders.
There was some misconception regarding the purpose of this series.
The mock drafts aren't necessarily what I expect the teams to do, but more what I would do to specifically prepare the team to compete with Dallas and Philadelphia.
Today, we continue the series by mock drafting for the New York Giants, who usher in a new era with a new signal-caller.
If the New York Giants can have a draft similar to this one, it could pose problems in the near future for the Dallas Cowboys.
Round 1 Pick 6
Selection: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Much like the Commanders, I forego the quarterback selection in the first round.
The last time the New York Giants selected a quarterback with the 6th overall pick, they ended up with Daniel Jones, and that hasn't worked out.
Instead, this time they hit on a premium position by selecting the most gifted defensive back in the draft, Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo.
Mitchell has the physical traits to match up with the top wide receivers in the division and immediately upgrades the Giants' secondary.
He just narrowly clears the 6'0 threshold and is just short of 200 pounds, but he clocked a 4.33 40-yard dash and threw up 20 reps of 225 pounds on bench press.
The Giants draft their version of an answer to CeeDee Lamb and AJ Brown.
Round 2 Pick 47
Selection: Michael Penix, Washington
The Daniel Jones experiment comes to an end with the 47th overall pick of the draft when the Giants take QB Michael Penix.
I can't predict what the Giants will do with Jones.
They might trade him for a late-round pick or possibly keep him as a short bridge before Penix takes over.
Whatever they decide to do, the Giants will enter a new era behind the arm of a younger and more talented quarterback.
Round 3 Pick 70
Selection: LB Junior Colson, Michigan
With their third-round pick, the Giants select the quarterback of the defense opposite of Penix in the National Championship game in January.
LB Junior Colson would bring size and toughness to the second level of the Giants' defense, now under the guidance of new DC Shane Bowen.
Colson is also an immediate upgrade in the middle over Micah McFadden or Bobby Okereke.
Giants' brass adds another defensive weapon to combat the Cowboys' explosive offense as well as Philadelphia's and Washington's.
Round 4 Pick 107
Selection: CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State
New York continues to supplement a defense that sorely lacked impact players in the secondary in 2023.
Their fourth-round pick is Jarrian Jones, a cornerback from Florida State University who can step in immediately as a slot cornerback.
The Giants' top three cornerbacks after this pick would be 2023 1st round pick Deonte Banks and 2024 1st round pick Quinyon Mitchell along with Jones.
Round 5 Pick 141
Selection: RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
It takes until the fifth round but the Giants finally address the running back position after allowing Saquon Barkley to leave in free agency to the rival Eagles.
Braelon Allen from Wisconsin is a big, bruising back standing at 6'1″ and 235 pounds.
He will perfectly complement Devin Singletary in the Giants' backfield as they try to establish a good running game to support their rookie quarterback.
Round 6 Pick 183
Selection: DT Myles Murphy, North Carolina
New York traded away DT Leonard Williams last season and has yet to replace him along the defensive line.
With the final pick of the draft for them, the Giants take DT Myles Murphy from North Carolina.
He isn't as disruptive as Williams was, but he brings some beef to the interior of a defense that finished ranked 29th versus the run in 2023.
Results
Pro Football Focus grades my New York Giants mock draft with an “A”.
They make the most of the few picks they have, making sure to address needs without sacrificing value.
New York gets the best cornerback in the draft in the top 10, but still are able to draft their quarterback of the future in the second round.
This is a good draft, and we should hope their front office isn't competent enough to have a draft like this.
