Giants seven-round NFL Mock Draft 4.0: The receiver Daniel Jones needs

The real thing finally arrives Thursday night. 

Thank goodness.

Until then, it remains Mock Draft season. 

Consider the first three stabs at this as tune-ups as we lock in on what the Giants might do with their 10 picks.  

For this final version, Mock 4.0, we used the draft simulators from Pro Football Network and Pro Football Focus, blending the two together to provide the best-guess scenarios for each pick.

Ready? Here goes:

Round 1, No. 25 overall: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Previous picks: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College; CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State; WR Quentin Johnston, TCU

The head coach is Brian Daboll and he wants to throw it more often and with more proficiency than the Giants did in 2022.

The Giants did not sign Daniel Jones for big bucks to have him hand the ball off.

Flowers can be a game-breaking weapon, leaving college as the school’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns. 

His size (5-9, 170) is not ideal but his speed, explosiveness and movement on the field are all too-notch. 

Yards after catch will be up, up, up with this guy. 

A few more drops than you would like to see but Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will happily stay up nights plotting ways to get Flowers the ball.

Round 2, No. 57 overall: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

Previous picks: C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota; C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin; CB Clark Phillips III, Utah

This is what a good-sized corner (6-2, 205) looks like. 

Ringo can play in zone and man schemes, has speed (4.35) to burn and plenty of size to take down ball-carriers. 

He has the size and athletic skill-set teams covet for this position.

Ringo needs work on the deep ball and had some penalty issues with the Bulldogs.

The Giants need someone to step up and claim the starting job alongside Adoree’ Jackson. 

They have Cor’Dale Flott, Aaron Robinson and newcomer Amani Oruwariye as candidates. 

Ringo jumps to the head of the line.  

Round 3, No. 89 overall: Steve Avila, G, TCU

Previous picks: EDGE Andre Carter, Army; WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati; S Jordan Battle, Alabama

Big, heavy body at 339 pounds.

Here is the beef. 

Avila is a power blocker with heavy hands and should be an early force as a run blocker, and possibly a liability as a pass blocker until he settles in. 

Here is a key ingredient: He played some center for the Horned Frogs, and that should intrigue the Giants.

Round 4, No. 128 overall: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

Previous picks: RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia; OL Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion; RB Roschon Johnson, Texas

At 6-2 and 223 pounds, this is one of those “I’ll take him” athletes when you see him coming off the bus. 

Johnson was the backup for elite back Bijan Robinson for the Longhorns. 

He averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2022 and has 23 career touchdown runs. 

Power back who runs hard, almost angry at times and only one fumble in college. 

This selection will lead to all sorts of intrigue, with Saquon Barkley, at this point, signed only through 2023.

Round 5, No. 160 overall: Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame

Previous picks: CB Riley Moss, Iowa; S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame; DT Colby Wooden, Auburn

Lest we forget, Julian Love is now with the Seahawks and there is a starting job open at safety opposite Xavier McKinney. 

Joseph played at Northwestern before moving to the Fighting Irish and is instinctive, versatile and probably not an elite athlete. 

Sounds a bit like … Julian Love.

Round 5, No. 172 overall: Jalen Moreno-Cropper, WR, Fresno State

Previous picks: DL Zacch Pickens South Carolina; DE Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State, G Chandler Zavala, North Carolina State

Another slot target? 

Yeah, why not? 

Terrific production (169 receptions) the past two seasons, including 11 touchdowns in 2021. 

There could be some gadget play potential here and Moreno-Cropper will also be a candidate as a kick returner.

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Round 6, No. 209 overall: Cam Jones, LB, Indiana

Previous picks: G Brandon Kipper, Oregon State; RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota; WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Fresno State

Four-year starter, three-year team captain. 

Not bad. 

Strong showing at the Senior Bowl raised his stock. 

Jones, at 6-1 and 227 pounds, needs time to develop but he should be an immediate special teams contributor.

Round 7, No. 240 overall: Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia

Previous picks: CB Arquon Bush, Cincinnati; DT DJ Dale, Alabama; LB Bumper Pool, Arkansas

Here is a three-year starter at right tackle for the Bulldogs, which isn’t too shabby. 

At 6-4 and 290 pounds, McClendon has not allowed a sack since 2020, a span of 34 games. 

Provides insurance behind starters Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal.

Round 7, No. 243 overall: Bumper Pool, LB, Arkansas

Previous picks: DT Karl Brooks, Bowling Green; WR Elijah Higgins, Stanford; LB/S Marte Mapu, Sacramento State

Pool owns the program record with 441 career tackles as an off-ball defender. 

Good size for inside work at 6-3 and 235 pounds. 

Headline writers in the New York/New Jersey area rejoice when this pick is made. 

Pool had a hip injury in November that required surgery. 

Round 7, No. 254 overall: Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati

Previous picks: Marte Mapu, Sacramento State; CB Christian Braswell, Rutgers; DT Karl Brooks, Bowling Green

Adding a 260-pound in-line blocker this late in the draft represents good value. 

This guy can pass protect and open lanes in the running game, although he likely will not add much as a pass-catcher. 

The Giants have Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger for that.