6 Giants Starters Who Will Be Replaced in 2024 NFL Draft

Giants' 90-man roster: Can C Jon Halapio reward Giants' faith? - Big Blue View

Saquon Barkley – Running Back

The Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley appear headed toward a separation as the team doesn’t intend on franchise-tagging the talented back. A year removed from an off-season filled with contract disputes it’s likely that the two sides won’t be any closer to striking a long-term deal.

If the Giants are to let their former second overall pick walk in free agency, they’ll likely be players for a running back in day two or day three of the NFL Draft.

While the team could look to sign a lower-cost back in free agency, given the team’s needs and the state of the market, the draft is the best spot for the Giants to land their next back. Some of the Day three names to watch are Kendall Milton, Blake Corum, Dillon Johnson, and Braelon Allen among others.

Xavier McKinney – Safety

Another player the Giants appear headed towards a divorce with is Xavier McKinney. The new regime and McKinney have gotten off to poor footing with a bye-week ATV injury and public disagreements with Wink Martindale causing drama between the two sides.

Xavier McKinney talks Giants defense, 'disagreements' with previous regime

Positional value has caused a similar effect on the safety market as it did with the running back position with team’s showing how reluctant they are to pay significant money to a safety.

Given the Giants’ outlook heading into 2024, it’s highly unlikely that the team will pay a safety significant money while attempting to rebuild. The Giants will certainly add a veteran safety in free agency however they’ll most likely draft a long-term option on day two or three. The team had visits at the combine with Callen Bullock and Jaden Hicks who will both be names to watch.

New York Giants Draft Prospect: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu

Nick takes a look at another top offensive lineman prospect in this year’s draft.

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT

Height: 6’6
Weight: 317 lbs.
Class: Senior
School: Penn State

A former three-star recruit out of Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., who was the sixth-ranked recruit in the capitol and the 45th-ranked OT during the 2020 recruiting cycle. Fashanu was the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year and a consensus All-American in 2023 while earning Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2022.

According to Pro Football Focus, Fashanu never allowed a sack in 1,349 pass-blocking reps in college football; he only allowed 17 pressures in college, ten were in 2023, and almost all of his snaps were at LT. Fashanu returned to school after the 2022 season to earn his degree in supply chain and information systems, which he did earn.

Strengths

Elite height and wingspan with a dense lower half
High-cut in the hips, with a wide base
Good overall athlete who is explosive and agile
Super light feet, good foot-speed, light dancing bear
Good short area quickness to locate and close width upon the enemy
Flexible in his lower half – can dip/bend low and explode into contact
Explodes low to high and lifts defender’s center of gravity when handling power as a pass blocker
- Similar to Lane Johnson’s technique
Size/frame are coupled with good framing to pose a difficult challenge for defenders to defeat when pass-rushing
Quick jump set and 45-degree set to gain advantage with positioning
Flexibility allows him to dip low and reset anchor
Solid overall anchor – did struggle badly against Ohio State
Does well to match defenders up the pass-rushing arc
Effortless ability to flip hips and change direction in pass set
Does very well in COMBO and climb situations on down blocks up to linebackers
Location skills at the second level were solid
Scoop/Reach well and is a good fit for a zone-based system
Gets his hips swiveled around COMBO blocks to eliminate IDL from the play side
Good backside blocker, excellent competitive toughness and hustle
Good overall play strength and power – balanced player
Will be 21 years old for most of his rookie season

Weaknesses

Hands get wide and wild; need refinement
Adequate overall footwork and angle discretion – a bit raw in this area
Would like to see more efficiency with establishing contact/control in pass protection other than exploding low-to-high-location issues that were evident in this area
Chest is exposed too often
Eyes were a bit too inconsistent – too frequently missed his assignment or misjudged.
Could handle post-snap movement and gap exchanges more cleanly
Could be more physical
Hands could have more pop in pass protection