Giants Now: A two-round mock draft by Matt Miller
Now that the Senior Bowls and the Shrine have passed, experts are revising their projections for the 2024 NFL Draft.
This week, ESPN’s Matt Miller released a mock draft in which he made predictions for the first 64 draft selections. Right now, the Giants have the first-round picks Nos. 6, 39, and 47.
Here are Miller’s selections for the first three choices by the Giants.
Pick six: Washington’s Rome Odunze, wide receiver
“Odunze is a powerful and aggressive player both before and after the catch, standing at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. Miller noted, “He’s a potent option on both breaking routes and back-shoulder fades.” “Odunze would immediately boost the Giants’ offense.”
With 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns this past season, Odunze established himself as one of the nation’s top wide receivers.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound wide receiver was awarded first-team All-Pac-12 and Consensus All-American after he recorded 100 or more receiving yards in 10 of the 15 games. It was his second season in a row to be chosen for the first team all-conference. He caught 75 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore.
Pick 39: Duke’s Graham Barton, G
“Barton, who played left tackle at Duke, is projected to slide inside to guard or center in the pros,” Miller added.
Barton played in his first games as a freshman, starting the season’s final five games at center, and earning a spot on The Athletic’s second-team freshman All-American roster. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound lineman started as left tackle in all 12 games the next season.
As a junior, when he started all 13 games at left tackle and was selected to the first team of the ACC in addition to winning Duke’s Offensive Lineman of the Year Award, Barton really started to show his true potential. In addition to setting a school record with 31 rushing touchdowns throughout the season, he was a key member of Duke’s offensive line, which surrendered a conference-low 17 sacks and 51 tackles for loss.
According to Pro Football Focus, Barton participated in nine games in 2023 and was once again selected to the first team of the ACC after giving up only two sacks and eleven total pressures.
At pick No. 47, Michigan’s Kris Jenkins, DT
“Jenkins moved all over the Michigan defensive line and ended up playing more 5-technique in 2023, but his flashes of burst and power have me thinking his best football is still coming, once he’s able to shoot gaps and make plays in the backfield,” said the NFL expert. “Despite not being freed up to attack as a pass-rusher, Jenkins still finished with 16 pressures and 2.5 sacks in 2023.”
For Michigan, Jenkins played in 44 games with 32 starts. However, in 2022, as a junior, he started every game at defensive tackle and established himself as a full-time starter. That season, he led the team in defensive lineman tackles (54) and added 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two quarterback hurries. The coaches and media selected him as an honorable mention All-Big Ten player.
Before the 2023 season, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman was chosen as the team captain and went on to have a breakthrough year. Jenkins played in all 15 games as a starter and finished with 37 tackles, with 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
Jenkins was named third-team All-American by the Associated Press and second-team All-Big Ten by the league coaches as a result of his performance in aiding the Wolverines to win the National Championship.