Hot Takes, Predictions for Giants Rookies After 2023 NFL Draft

This past season, the New York Giants got strong contributions from rookies like Evan Neal, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Daniel Bellinger en route to their first playoff appearance in a half-decade. Now, the Giants are looking to build on their 2022 success, and they're bringing a whole new draft class with them.

On paper, it was a solid early draft for New York, which took a potential shutdown corner in Deonte Banks in the first round and a promising interior lineman in John Michael Schmitz in Round 2. The Giants also nabbed a speedy receiver in Jalin Hyatt, who will add a little more potency to the passing attack this season.

The roster looks better and deeper than it did a few days ago, but what should fans realistically expect from this year's draft class?

Below, you'll find a few hot takes and bold predictions for the coming season. First, though, let's take a moment to recap the draft.

Draft Results

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ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 27: New York Giant logo on the video board during the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft on April 27, 2018, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The complete draft order and full results from the 2023 NFL draft can be found below:

Banks and Schmitz Will Be Day-One Starters

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C John Michael Schmitz

Not every rookie starts right away. This is true, even for highly-drafted prospects like Banks and Schmitz. In this case, though, both will be opening-day starters.

Banks is the sort of tough, physical and twitchy man corner that defensive coordinator Don Martindale loves to feature on the perimeter but previously lacked. He can shadow opposing receivers, lend a hard-hitting hand in run support and make plays on the football.

Banks had eight passes defended last season, and while he's not a true ballhawk (2 interceptions in four years), he should boost a defense that logged only six interceptions last season.

Schmitz, meanwhile, should immediately replace the departed Jon Feliciano and surpass J.C. Hassenauer as the starting center.

"Overall, Schmitz has the play strength, understanding of leverage and mental processing to be a solid starter right away in a multiple run scheme," Brandon Thorn of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.

Last year, the Giants got two early starters in Neal and Thibodeaux. They'll have that again this year in Banks and Schmitz.

Hyatt Won't See a Heavy Workload but Will Be Impactful

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Jalin Hyatt

The Giants traded up to take Hyatt in the third round. New York added receivers Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder in free agency, but they still lacked a true No. 1-caliber receiver.

However, Hyatt isn't that. He's a slight receiver (6'0", 176 lbs) who lacks polish but possesses tremendous speed (he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the combine). He'll need time to fully develop, and early expectations for Hyatt—who was the 12th-ranked receiver on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's draft board—should be low.

This doesn't mean that Hyatt won't contribute. On a rotational basis, he'll add a new downfield element to the New York offense.

"Hyatt's speed alone will make him useful out of the gate. He should immediately be an effective downfield threat and a useful field-stretching decoy at worst," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "However, Hyatt's middling route-running skills and difficult transition from Tennessee's offense to the NFL could make for a bumpy start while he tries to find another pitch beside his fastball."

Expect to see Hyatt play a slightly larger role than 2022 second-round pick Wan'Dale Robinson did before suffering a torn ACL last season but to be in and out of the lineup. This season should be about growth for Hyatt, but he'll help Daniel Jones stretch the field and hit a few home runs along the way.

Eric Gray Will Get Playing Time Early

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Eric Gray

The Giants have one of the league's best dual-threat backs in Saquon Barkley, and they have a solid backup in Matt Breida. Yet, New York still took a running back in Round 5, and they got a good one in Oklahoma's Eric Gray.

Gray might be viewed as a luxury pick and pure depth behind Barkley and Breida. However, the prediction here is that the 23-year-old sees the field quite a bit as a rookie. This is because Gray is both a capable pass-catcher and a tough between-the-tackles runner.

"Gray always runs with a full head of steam and makes defenders pay for not taking him on cleanly," Klassen wrote. "He has the ability to let tackles bounce off his lower half, and he'll occasionally plow right over defenders and trudge forward for some extra yardage."

Last season, Gray rushed for 1,366 yards, caught 33 passes for 229 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

In New York, Gray can carve out a role early as a short-yardage back, a change-of-pace runner and a third-down rotational back. Fans should expect him to see more than the 54 carries Breida logged behind Barkley last season.

Barkley has a significant injury history and isn't always the most decisive runner. By utilizing Gray, the Giants can help wear down opposing defenses while lightening Barkley's load and preserving him for the stretch run and the playoffs.