The Giants have addressed several areas of need through the first two days of the NFL Draft this week and general manager Joe Schoen has one more day to build the future of the organization.
Schoen has shown he isn’t afraid of making a deal to move up in the draft to get the player he wants, which has resulted in deals in round one and round three. Time will tell what Schoen will do and if the Giants attempt to move back into the fourth round after dealing that pick to the Los Angeles Rams as part of the deal to move up to the 73rd overall pick.
As it stands now the Giants will make four final picks in this year’s draft with the 172nd, 209th, 243rd and 254th selections.
ROUND 5
Pick 172 – RB, Eric Gray, Oklahoma
The Giants went out and got themselves a running back on the final day of the draft. It gives Big Blue another back behind Saquon Barkley, who is the middle of a contract dispute with the Giants, and Matt Breida. Gray rushed for 1,366 yards in 12 games with the Sooners last season and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. Gray doesn’t have the quickest speed, but he’s drawn comparisons to Miles Sanders and can be a creative runner that New York could use on third downs.
ROUND 6
Pick 209 – CB, Tre Hawkins III, Old Dominion
The Giants added another corner late in the NFL Draft with their second-to-last pick of the day. Hawkins had 60 tackles, two interceptions, and six passes defensed over 12 games in 2022 and set a school record in 2021 for tackles recorded by a cornerback with 76.
ROUND 7
Pick 243 — DT, Jordon Riley, Oregon
Like most seventh-round selections, Riley is considered a project that could provide nice depth along the interior. He enjoyed a career year with the Ducks in his final season with 21 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a pass breakup this season. He’ll project to potentially be a practice squad guy that grows as he gets accustomed to the NFL.
Pick 254 — S, Gevarrius Owens, Houston
The Giants added some more depth to their secondary with their final pick of the draft. Owens has been described as a safety that has a good noise for the football and can get physical for jump balls. He had 74 tackles, one interception, eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 2022.
amNewYork will update this story after each pick is made by the Giants.
For more Giants coverage, visit amNY Sports
Read more: Islanders’ Mathew Barzal Skating Again
