NFL analyst: New York Giants must ace their picks in April

Last year, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen was under pressure to nail the draft after two very average performances in 2022 and 2023.

He did. Schoen lucked into LSU super stud wideout Malik Nabers in the first round and followed it up with five more picks of players who have bright futures with the club.

The Giants still finished 3-14. Granted, they were ravaged by injuries (again) and devolved into quarterback hell, but the outlook after the season was bleaker than when it began.

Schoen needs to nail this year's draft as well if the Giants are going to begin the long climb out of the NFC East cellar.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com has listed the Giants and Schoen as his top team that needs to "ace the draft" this spring.

Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen know they need to produce. More wins. Better draft picks. Improved quarterback production. The whole nine yards. This upcoming season must prove the Giants are headed in the right direction, or owner John Mara’s postseason decision on their fate could be different this time around.

It starts with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Have the Giants done enough at quarterbackto pass on one there? Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are in tow, along with Tommy DeVito. They’ve started three different QBs each of the past two seasons. There’s room for a developmental quarterback, even if one doesn’t come at three. If New York passes on one and selects a blue-chip talent such as Colorado’s Travis Hunter, it could be a franchise-changing decision. What would the plan be for Hunter: corner, receiver or both? The Giants certainly will try their best to put as much of Hunter's talent to work early if he is indeed the pick, but the plan in this scenario would be important and telling.

The Giants have five picks in the top 105 overall and can be aggressive. Whether that means trading up for a QB prospect (Shedeur Sanders? Jaxson Dart?) at some point along the way, or hoovering in as much ready-made talent as possible with those picks, they must be ready to strike when opportunities present themselves. 

There are voids on both lines of scrimmage and at linebacker, but what the G-Men lack most are playmakers. They ranked dead last in 20-yard pass plays last season and in the bottom five in defensive takeaways. Hunter could help both areas, but he can’t do it alone.

The pressure is clearly on. Schoen has already hinted that the team might steer clear of a quarterback with the third overall pick. That could mean he'll be targeting Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter early on and perhaps choosing a quarterback on Day 2.

As for the lack of downfield throws last season, Edholm seems to blame the weapons. They're fine. It was Daboll's playcalling and lack of confidence in his offensive line and quarterbacks that kept the Giants from throwing deep.