New York Giants NFL Draft picks 2024: Grades, fits and scouting reports (2024)

The New York Giants entered the 2024 NFL Draft with six picks over the three-day event.

All offseason, the Giants operated like a team intent on drafting a quarterback. But when the time came, they didn’t pull the trigger. Instead, they drafted a playmaker unlike one they’ve had in a long, long time. With the No. 6 pick, the Giants bypassed Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix — each eventually selected in the first round — and drafted explosive LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Nabers just wrapped up one of the most productive seasons in college football history, leading the nation with 120.7 yards per game and was tops in the FBS with 34 plays of 20-plus yards and 17 going for 30-plus. He will provide a massive upgrade to the Giants’ wide receiver room and, of course, will be the new primary target for QB Daniel Jones.

Speaking of Jones, his future hung in the balance entering the evening, but now it seems like he’ll get another season to prove he can still be the franchise QB.

After the Giants addressed the wide receiver position in Round 1, GM Joe Schoen spent Day 2 addressing the team’s needs in the secondary by selecting the first safety taken in the draft in Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin before adding a cornerback in Round 3 in Kentucky’s Andru Phillips.

To kick off Day 3, Schoen went back to the offensive side of the ball by selecting Penn State tight end Theo Johnson with the No. 107 pick in Saturday’s fourth round. Given the uncertainty surrounding Darren Waller’s future, this pick makes a ton of sense.

Later on in Day 3, Schoen added some explosiveness by drafting Purdue running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the fifth round with the No. 166 overall pick. Tracy should be a factor in the return game for the Giants this season.

Schoen and the Giants spent their final pick (No. 183) on UCLA linebacker Darius Muasau.

Check out our analysis for each Giants pick.

NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, picks and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Round 1 | Rounds 2-3
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections

Round 1

No. 6: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

How he fits

Nabers is an electric playmaker and arguably the most dangerous ball carrier in space in this class. An incredibly smooth and explosive athlete with great ball skills, Nabers was an instant contributor in the SEC for LSU and made 161 catches with Jayden Daniels the last two seasons as a complete receiver. There were some scouts who had Nabers ranked ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. in this class. He’s that good.

The Giantshave questions about Daniel Jones, to be sure. But, to me, drafting a quarterback here made no sense. TheGiants still have so much work to do – bringing a first-round QB in to “compete” with a guy you don’t support makes no sense. Nabers is an awesome talent and will instantly make one of the slowest offenses faster. A sensible, efficient and explosive draft pick. Also, possibly, a mess avoided. — Nick Baumgardner

Grade: A

Charlotte Carroll’s analysis

When the Giants elected not to use the No. 6 pick on a QB, wide receiver was the easy choice. It came down to Nabers and Odunze, and if you were paying attention to offseason discussions of hopes for the offense this season, Nabers made the most sense because of his big-play ability. He should be a legitimate threat for Jones, and all eyes will be on just how much this offense can improve.

RD 1 | PK 6 – Giants: Malik Nabers WR, LSU

With the sixth overall pick, the @Giants select the wide receiver with the highest overall score (92) and production score (96) in the 2024 class.#NFLDraft | #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/ld43g70L7t

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 26, 2024

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Nabers ranked No. 3 on Brugler’s final top 300 list and was his second-ranked wide receiver. Here’s his analysis from ‘The Beast’:

“An explosive play creator (led the FBS with 34 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023), Nabers uses his gliding speed to consistently win on slot fades or one-on-one vertical routes. His favorite play in the playbook is the jet sweep (his 7-on-7 highlights from high school are legendary). He also can win underneath as a snatch-and-run target and will continue to ascend as he develops his finishing skills and route discipline. Overall, Nabers has only average size/strength, but he offers dynamic potential because of his ability to accelerate/decelerate on command and always make himself available with his athletic catch-point skills. He projects as a playmaking receiver in the NFL.”

Round 2

No. 47 (from SEA): Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

How he fits

Maybe the most underrated player in the draft, Nubin was both a solid coverage safety and a tremendous tackler at Minnesota. He will step in immediately forXavier McKinney and thrive. With 43 starts at Minnesota, Nubin was experienced and highly respected. He finished his career with a school-record 13 interceptions and 24 passes defended, as well as 207 tackles. He’s a Day 1 starter. — Scott Dochterman

Grade: A

Dan Duggan’s analysis:

One thing that has become clear is that Schoen looks to the second round to address needs. Last year, he took Schmitz, who immediately stepped in as a starter. The expectation will be the same for another Minnesota product, as Nubin is a similarly experienced prospect picked at a position with a glaring hole.

"Just a really special kid that's a good football player."

Joe Schoen on Tyler Nubin: pic.twitter.com/tQ443DsoIl

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) April 27, 2024

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Nubin ranked No. 68 on Brugler’s final top 300 list and was his third-ranked safety. Here’s his analysis from ‘The Beast’:

“A four-year starter at Minnesota, Nubin was an interchangeable safety (single high and split zone) in defensive coordinator Joe Rossi’s mixed-coverage scheme. A cornerback-turned-safety, he led the Gophers in interceptions in each of the last four seasons and collected his 13th career interception in his final home game, which set a new school record.

“Using his athleticism and awareness, Nubin keeps everything in front of him and can drive off the numbers in the deep half to overlap the seam or track and finish from the post. As an alley defender, he is fearless but controlled, and he comes to balance with low pads to finish tackles with authority.

“Overall, Nubin has conservative tendencies in coverage, but he is a four-down player with a coveted skill set, because of his split-field range, playmaking instincts and toughness versus the run. He is ideally suited for a quarters-based, Cover-2 scheme in the NFL and will be a core special teamer.”

Round 3

No. 70: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky

How he fits

One of the most versatile corners in the draft, Phillips can play inside or outside — and even safety, if need be. A very physical, hyper-competitive player who will find a way to get on the field immediately, Phillips boasts a 42-inch vertical leap and plays with terrific speed. He’s also a very mature youngster from a high-achieving family. An easy favorite among the Day 2 cornerbacks. — Scott Dochterman

Grade: A

The current NFL WR that @UKFootball's @AndruPhillips can't wait to face pic.twitter.com/JYGiuGNvBI

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) March 28, 2024

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Phillips ranked No. 61 on Brugler’s final top 300 list and was his ninth-ranked cornerback. Here’s his analysis from ‘The Beast’:

“A two-year starter at Kentucky, Phillips was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Brad White’s zone-heavy scheme, moving inside to cover the slot in subpackages (37.6 percent of his career snaps came inside). Although his production won’t jump off the page, his coverage tape improved each of his four seasons in Lexington — and that continued with a strong week during Senior Bowl practices.

“With his lower-body quickness and agility, Phillips can drive from zone or stay within arm’s length downfield in man. He prefers to play a physical brand of football, which is refreshing. However, his handsy tactics needs more subtlety, and his tackling requires better finishing control.

“Overall, Phillips falls short in a few categories, which leads to in-game volatility. He is battled-tested, though, with the athletic instincts and feisty toughness that will translate to any level of football. He won’t be a fit for every team but offers inside-outside versatility with immediate special-teams value, similar to Roger McCreary.”

Round 4

No. 107: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State

How he fits

An ascending tight end Johnson was solid in 2023 with 34 catches for 341 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. With tremendous size and speed (4.57 in the 40-yard dash) plus a large wingspan (80 ¾), Johnson seems to offer more as a prospect than what he showed with the Nittany Lions. The Giants bet on Johnson’s upside and this is insurance in case Waller decides to retire. — Scott Dochterman

Dan Duggan’s analysis

Johnson was a mid-round prospect who got to know Giants QB coach Shea Tierney, who was his team’s OC at the Senior Bowl. That makes sense considering Darren Waller’s continued uncertainty about his future. The 6-foot-6, 259-pound Johnson has the athletic tools to develop into a pass-catching complement to the Giants’ stable of blocking tight ends.

With Darren Waller still mulling retirement, Theo Johnson is a long term investment and versatile tight end.

He's huge too at 6-6 and 259 pounds! https://t.co/6i1IMJzkaY

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) April 27, 2024

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Johnson was Brugler’s 80th-ranked player and No. 3 tight end. Here’s his analysis from ‘The Beast’:

“A three-year starter at Penn State, Johnson was a versatile tight end in former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s RPO-based scheme, splitting his time between inline (47.9 percent), slot (38.8 percent) and wide (9.8 percent). A wide receiver in high school in Canada, he faced a steep transition moving to tight end at State College and didn’t have a 100-yard receiving performance in 45 college games (and reached 75 yards just once). But his production steadily climbed each season, and he led the Nittany Lions in touchdown grabs in 2023.

Johnson is quick off the ball and builds his speed downfield, giving his quarterback a big tar get with
his size, strong hands and athletic catch radius. As a blocker, he doesn’t embarrass himself but needs to better understand leverage and develop more of a glass-chewing mentality.

Overall, Johnson has inconsistent college tape and production, but he has A-plus measurements and smooth athletic tools that could allow him to continue developing and become a better pro than college player. Although he is a work in progress, he is a worthy long-term investment for an NFL team.

Theo Johnson: 146.6 passer rating when targeted since 2022, 1st among Big Ten TE's pic.twitter.com/KsruPBiyBk

— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) April 27, 2024

Round 5

No. 166 (from 49ers through Panthers): Tyrone Tracy, RB, Purdue

Dan Duggan analysis

This seems like a pick made with the new kickoff rules in mind. This is also the second year in a row Schoen has drafted a running back in the fifth round. Last year, the Giants picked Eric Gray at No. 172. Tracy will join Gray, Gary Brightwell, Jashaun Corbin, Deon Jackson and Dante Miller as depth behind starter and free-agent acquisition Devin Singletary.

Round: 5️⃣ Pick: 1️⃣6️⃣6️⃣@BoilerFootball RB @TyroneTracy 👉 @Giants #B1GFootball x #nfldraft pic.twitter.com/r0Pq8bFazQ

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) April 27, 2024

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Tracy ranked No. 119 on Brugler’s final top 300 list and was his 11th-ranked running back. Here’s his analysis from ‘The Beast’:

“A two-year starter at Purdue, Tracy played a ‘WideBack’ position in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s scheme, which utilized h is skills as both a running back and wide receiver. After four seasons as a receiver at Iowa, his versatility as ball carrier blossomed in West Lafayette, and in 2023 he led the Big Ten in rushing yards per carry (6.34).

“Displaying natural instincts with the ball in his hands, Tracy runs with the dynamic agility and elusiveness to slip tackles from different angles (21.9 percent of his carries in 2023 resulted in a 10-plus-yard run, which ranked top five in the FBS). However, his inexperience at running back shows in his sporadic tendencies when choosing run lanes.

“Overall, Tracy needs to improve his decision-making at the line of scrimmage, but he can create with his quick lateral cuts and contact balance — and he can stay on the field on passing downs. He is a multi-dimensional threat as a rusher, receiver and special teamer, which increases his chances of commanding an NFL roster spot.”

Tyrone Tracy Jr. was drafted in round 5 pick 166 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.78 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 42 out of 1903 RB from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/OYXrKqpoXz pic.twitter.com/tBwPdNtwGP

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2024

Round 6

No. 183: Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA

Dan Duggan analysis

You’re not drafting for need at this point. Muasau was a productive LB during five years split between Hawaii and UCLA. He seems like the type of guy who can earn a roster spot on special teams and potentially push for the linebacker job next to Bobby Okereke.

Darius Muasau was drafted in round 6 pick 183 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 5.73 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1235 out of 2889 LB from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/pqPZYHGFsm pic.twitter.com/xlMoRDVMge

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2024

Dane Brugler analysis

Muasau ranked No. 214 on Brugler’s final top 300 list and was his 16th-ranked linebacker. Here’s his analysis from ‘The Beast’:

“A two-year starter at UCLA, Muasau played Mike linebacker in former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After three productive seasons at Hawaii, he led the Bruins in tackles in both of his seasons in Westwood and has an impressive collegiate resume — he played in every game the last five years and compiled 440 tackles and 40.0 tackles for loss.

“A quick-reacting defender, Muasau has the vision that gives him a head start on the play, which expands his lateral range and helps him make stops near the line of scrimmage. He is aware in short-zone coverage, although he lacks the movement skills to stay connected to backs or tight ends in man coverage.

“Overall, Muasau might not be elite in any one area, but he is a well-rounded linebacker with the play recognition and tackling skills that will translate to any level. Similar in ways to Sione Takitaki, he projects as an NFL backup who can hold his own when he sees the field.”

Round 7

No picks

(Photo of Nabers: Kirby Lee / USA Today)