The NFL Draft is almost here, and it’s time to set aside the mock drafts and predictions and enjoy the unpredictability of it all. One of the best parts? Watching fans and analysts try to forecast what’s coming. NFL.com’s Adam Rank shared his one and only mock draft on Tuesday — he doesn’t revise it as the draft nears. And his projection for the New York Giants is a real curveball.
While most mocks focus on the debate between Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter, Rank goes in a completely different direction. He doesn’t have the Giants taking either of those players — or even a quarterback. Instead, he suggests they go with the top running back in the draft: Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
Rank made the case Tuesday night on NFL Network’s “Mock Draft Live,” calling it a heartwarming move for a team still reeling from Saquon Barkley’s departure to the Eagles in free agency. In his view, drafting Jeanty would be a way to heal that wound — even if it means passing on more highly rated prospects at more critical positions.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73759248/usa_today_24873030.0.jpg)
On NFL.com, Rank wrote that this pick could reignite the fan base’s love for the G-Men. “The offensive line is a mess and there are other holes, but what this team really needs is a spark — someone who helps fans move on from the fact that Saquon just won a Super Bowl with Philly,” Rank said. “Okay, maybe they’ll never totally forget that. But imagine an offense with Malik Nabers, Jeanty, and Russell Wilson — that’s not bad. Grab an O-lineman in round two. Take Jeanty now and give your fans a reason to believe again.”
In Rank’s mock, Carter lands with the Browns and Hunter goes to the Patriots, sandwiching the Giants’ pick. While some fans might see passing on Hunter as a missed opportunity, the appeal of a Saquon 2.0 makes the argument compelling.