Giants: ESPN's lead draft analyst praises 2023 draft class
The New York Giants have garnered nothing but praise from me, as many of you know how adamant I have been about the prospects of the 2023 class, both tangibly and as a projection. But it turns out I'm not the only one, nor should I be, as anyone who's covered the draft for a […]
The New York Giants have garnered nothing but praise from me, as many of you know how adamant I have been about the prospects of the 2023 class, both tangibly and as a projection.
But it turns out I'm not the only one, nor should I be, as anyone who's covered the draft for a decent amount of time knows how to separate a good class from a mediocre one from a poor one.
ESPN's Mel Kiper knows that better than most, so when he graded the Giants class, it was sure to cause Giants fans to sit up in their seats.
Here is what Kiper Jr, had to say about the Giants:
Grade: A-
I mentioned this Friday night, but the Giants landed three of my top 45 prospects in the first two days of the draft. That's impressive stuff from general manager Joe Schoen. Cornerback Deonte Banks (24) was consistently impressive when I watched his 2022 tape, and he stuck to receivers in man coverage. He is both experienced (he started eight games as a freshman) and toolsy (42-inch vertical leap at the combine). We can slot him in as a starter on the other side of Adoree' Jackson.
John Michael Schmitz (57) is my top-ranked center, and he fills a huge hole. He's going to start as a rookie. Coach Brian Daboll helped make a trade up for wideout Jalin Hyatt (73), whom I had rated as the No. 44 player in this class. You might remember Hyatt from his five touchdown catches against Alabama, and he can fly out of the slot. I was surprised he was still available in Round 3. I like running back Eric Gray (172) as a potential steal on Day 3; he isn't a burner, but he can be a one-cut back behind Saquon Barkley. Safety Gervarrius Owens is an intriguing flier in Round 7. This class is lifted up by those first three picks, which all fit positions of need. Nice job by Schoen and Daboll.
While I believe that groupthink and confirmation bias can become a real thing in draft media, it's obvious to both Mel and myself, that from a pure value standpoint, the Giants clear the bar and then some. Time will tell just how impactful this class will be, but between myself, Kiper Jr., and many others, the outlook is promising.
