Top NFL Draft expert's latest mock has the New York Giants trading up to select quarterback of the future
The NFL Draft is almost here and there's still rampant speculation and disagreement on what the New York Giants should do in the first and second round this year. However, one thing has become abundantly clear. The Giants are almost certainly going to select a quarterback to replace Daniel Jones. And according to one of […]
The NFL Draft is almost here and there's still rampant speculation and disagreement on what the New York Giants should do in the first and second round this year. However, one thing has become abundantly clear. The Giants are almost certainly going to select a quarterback to replace Daniel Jones. And according to one of the most plugged-in long-time NFL Draft experts of all time, they may surprisingly trade up to do it. But not how many might expect.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN just released his latest mock draft today. It's two rounds long and includes multiple trades. In the NFL mock draft he has the Giants trading up with the Carolina Panthers at pick 33 and selecting Bo Nix, QB Oregon.
The move would require that the Giants send both pick 47 this year and their 2025 second round pick. That may seem a bit pricey to move up 14 picks in round two, but the Giants may have some competition to move up to the pick that kicks off round two. The Panthers do have around 20 hours to field offers for the pick once round one concludes after all.
But will something like that really happen? And does it make sense to target Bo Nix? All the major sports books around the world certainly believe there's a chance.
Why should we believe Bo Nix is the trade up target for the Giants?
According to multiple top tier sports books Box Nix currently has three teams with greater than 10% implied probability to select him. There's been a ridiculous copy cat run of mock drafts where the Broncos select him at pick 12 overall in the last two weeks, so they've become the betting favorites. However, frankly that is way too early for Nix. The next two most likely teams? The Giants and the Raiders, both around 12% odds.
General manager Joe Schoen and the Giants have met with all of the non-Caleb Williams top quarterback prospects formally this spring, but as they sit at pick six, it's highly unlikely they land Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. And if the Vikings trade ahead of them (like many are projecting), they'll likely miss out on J.J. McCarthy too. If that happens, that leaves them to choose between Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. (Washington QB) if they want to replace Daniel Jones.
The Giants met formally with Nix at the Combine. They did not reportedly formally interview Penix there. However, as I discussed two weeks ago, they did visit Penix at his pro day and apparently met with him privately. On the surface it seems the team is potentially interested in both.
The choice between the two likely comes down to risk tolerance. Michael Penix Jr. may have the better downfield throwing ability, but his four serious and season-ending injuries in college certainly have many worried about his long-term future. Bo Nix on the other hand has been the perfect example of durability, setting the all-time record for most college football starts at quarterback with 61.
Both Nix and Penix are elite in sack avoidance. Both posted top tier peak passing metric seasons in 2022 and 2023. They're both incredibly experienced. But regardless of which one they choose, if the Giants miss on quarterback in round one, they won't likely want to sit on their hands staying at pick 47 if they're still looking to replace Daniel Jones. A trade up with the Panthers might be the perfect move.
Be looking for more New York Giants coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Be sure to follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest news!
And check out some Bo Nix 2023 Oregon highlights in the video below if you want to get a preview of what he could bring to the Giants!
