McShay mock draft: Jaylen Waddle lands with Giants

Todd McShay solved the New York Giants’ need for a play-making wide receiver by selecting Jaylen Waddle of Alabama for them at No. 11 in his newly-released mock draft. [ESPN+]

McShay wrote:

The Giants have to give this offense more to work with. They were one of four teams to average fewer than five yards per play last season, and their 5.9 yards per pass attempt ranked No. 29. However, Waddle’s 18.9 yards per catch over the past two seasons ranked eighth in the country. There isn’t a more dangerous player with the ball in his hands in the draft class, thanks to excellent top-end speed, vision and elusiveness.

Of course McShay gave the Giants Waddle. The big-play Crimson Tide receiver is overwhelmingly the most popular choice for the Giants in mock drafts.

Waddle makes perfect sense for the Giants, too. Especially after the release of wide receiver Golden Tate, as Waddle could slide right into Tate’s spot in the offense and provide a much bigger play-making threat.

If the Giants drafted Waddle and chose to use him as a return man, he could also provide them with a boost on special teams.

In this mock, the other top three receivers were off the board. Kyle Pitts went to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 6, Ja’Marr Chase to the Detroit Lions at No. 7 and DeVonta Smith to the Miami Dolphins at No. 8 (after a McShay trade with the Carolina Panthers, who moved up to No. 3).

Remaining on the board were Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley, Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater and Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.