Giants mock draft tracker: Watch out for Micah Parsons, Kwity Paye

The whirlwind of free agency has not yet changed the overall results of our New York Giants mock draft tracker, with wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith of Alabama still being the predominant selections.

I trimmed all mock drafts prior to March 1 out of the current tracker, and this week there are 58 mocks in our listing. Waddle was the choice in 12 of those 58 mock drafts (20.7 percent). Smith was the choice in 10 mocks (17.2 percent).

The most-often selected defensive player was Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. He was choses six times (10.3 percent).

Parsons lit up the Penn State Pro Day on Thursday, with Giants head coach Joe Judge in attendance.

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 246
40-yard dash: 4.39
Vertical jump: 34 inches
Broad jump: 10-8
Bench press (225): 19 times

Pay attention to Kwity Paye

I have gone on record a number of times saying Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye would not be my choice among edge rushers or defenders if I was to pick one of those at No. 11 for the Giants. But, what do I know?

It is notable that this week two of the draft analysts who should have their fingers on the pulse of what NFL teams might really be thinking have selected Paye for the Giants.

First, it was ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.:

The question I asked when I did my mock draft 2.0 was: Can the Giants get Daniel Jones a No. 1 wide receiver? Well, they’re certainly paying free-agent acquisition Kenny Golladay like one. That means general manager Dave Gettleman could try to address another position with this pick, likely on defense. Though I don’t have an edge rusher rated this high, Paye isn’t far off, and teams always reach for pass-rushers with intriguing physical prowess. I’ve heard that Paye is going to impress scouts at his pro day on March 26 and put up incredible testing numbers across the board. The production wasn’t there at Michigan — 11.5 sacks in four seasons — but I would bet on his upside, and you can see his tremendous first-step ability if you turn on the tape.

Then, SI’s well-connected NFL analyst Albert Breer gave Paye to the Giants in his first mock draft:

Call this a hunch. Paye’s pro day is Friday, and by all accounts, he’s going to absolutely crush it. Joe Judge has connections to the Michigan staff, and that staff will give Paye (whose backstory is incredible) a glowing review. And GM Dave Gettleman loves big, fast pass rushers.

Paye did, of course, crush that Pro Day. He ran a 4.54 40-yard dash and weighed in at 261 pounds, down from around the 275 pounds he played at during the 2020 season.

Previous trackers

• Mock draft tracker 1.0
• Mock draft tracker 2.0
• Mock draft tracker 3.0
• Mock draft tracker 4.0
• Mock draft tracker 5.0
• Mock draft tracker 6.0
• Mock draft tracker 7.0
• Mock draft tracker 8.0
• Mock draft tracker 9.0
• Mock draft tracker 10.0