The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books. After a flurry of selections from Thursday to Saturday, 259 players were selected to join the NFL.
With that, we give you our full recap of the New York Giants‘ draft, with analysis on every selection the team made during the weekend and an in-depth look at their top pick.
For more information on the players your favorite team drafted, it’s not too late to get the 2023 NFL Draft Guide, which includes expanded scouting reports, draft grades, offseason reports, unique advanced data, PFF grades and much more.
More PFF draft content:
LIVE Draft Tracker | Mock Draft Simulator | 2023 NFL Draft Guide
Top 200 Big Board | PFF Mock Drafts | Measureables & Workout Data
NCAA Premium Stats | Draft Rankings By Position | Prospect Superlatives
2023 NFL Draft Picks
R1 (24): CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
R2 (57): C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
R3 (73): WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
R5 (172): RB Eric Gray, Oklahoma
R6 (209): CB Tre Hawkins III, Old Dominion
R7 (243): DT Jordan Riley, Oregon
R7 (254): S Gervarrius Owens, Houston
Day 1: The third-best cornerback on the PFF big board, Banks can fly and clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. An elite athlete, he has proven that he can mirror wide receivers in college and has the size teams look for at the position. He produced a 72.0 PFF grade in his final season at Maryland, the best of his college career.
Day 2: If the Giants had made this pick in the first round, nobody would have really batted an eye. He led all centers with a 92.3 PFF grade in 2022 and had graded well both on zone and gap plays. He’s a big guy but can really move and was a four-year starter at Minnesota. Simply put, he is one of the best run blockers at the position to enter the draft in recent years.
Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award as the top wide receiver in college football, averaging 18.9 yards per reception and scoring 15 touchdowns. He is a burner on the outside that needs some refinement but has all the athletic ability necessary to excel at the next level. Hyatt’s 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jump were all above the 85th percentile. The Giants add a much-needed outside weapon for QB Daniel Jones.
Gray was really impressive in his final season of college, producing an elite 90.6 PFF grade in 2022. He graded well on both zone and gap plays, and while he’s a little on the small size, he moves really well, posting a 96.2 elusive rating that was one of the best marks in this running back class.
Another likely special teamer, Hawkins produced PFF run-defense grades of 82.9 and 90.1 in each of the past two seasons. He wasn’t great in coverage, but that strength against the run should give him a route to the field on special teams as a rookie.
Riley is a huge inside presence at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds but has never graded above a 65.7 in his college career.
Owens produced an 87.6 PFF coverage grade in his most productive season this past year. He did, however, miss 17.8% of the tackles he attempted.
DRAFT GRADE: A+
Prospect Spotlight: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
What an athlete. Banks went 4.35 in the 40-yard dash with a 42-inch vertical and an 11-foot-4 broad jump at the NFL Combine. That matched his tape, where he easily mirrored receivers at all levels of the field.
Strengths, weaknesses and NFL role
Where he wins: Mirror ability
Banks is sticky without needing to use his size. That's a rarity for a 200-plus-pound corner. And it's scary to think what he could become once he learns to use that size advantage consistently.
What's his role? Versatile CB
Banks has the athletic skill set and tackling ability to wear many hats in a defense. His best role may even be a L'Jarius Sneed-esque “big slot” at the next level.
What he can improve: Press technique
Whether it's stopping his feet, getting overly anxious or being too comfortable with space between him and the receiver, Banks has a good deal to be cleaned up in his press technique.
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