Let mock draft season begin.
The Giants will select No. 4 in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, after finishing the regular season with a 4-12 record. It marks the third straight season they will pick in the top six and the fifth time in six years with a top-10 pick (Ereck Flowers, Eli Apple, Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones).
The day began with possibilities the Giants still could pick as high as No. 2 or as low as No. 5. But the Lions (3-12-1) choked away a lead over the Packers and extended a season-ending losing streak to nine, and the upstart Dolphins (5-11) stunned the Patriots, slotting the Giants into either No. 3 or No. 4.
The two simultaneous NFC East games Sunday determined the division champion and the top of the draft order. The Eagles clinched a playoff spot by beating the Giants, and the Redskins (3-13) locked up No. 2 with a loss to the Cowboys, who needed help from the Giants to back into the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
Barring a trade up on or before April 23, the Giants almost certainly can forget about Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young, who will have Redskins’ and Lions’ brass licking their chops to fill a need, assuming the Bengals select Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow at No. 1.
There are plenty of other needs for the Giants to address, and inside linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), offensive tackles Andrew Thomas (Georgia) and Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and defensive end A.J. Espensa (Iowa), cornerback Jeff Okudah (Ohio State) all would be enticing options.
The last time the Giants picked No. 4 was in 2004, when the selection was quarterback Philip Rivers, who was packaged with three other draft picks to the Chargers in a trade for Eli Manning.
It also means the Giants are giving the Jets the No. 68 overall pick (No. 4 in third round) as part of the package for pending free agent Leonard Williams.
The Giants’ 2020 opponents are finalized: In addition to home-and-homes with the three other NFC East teams, the Giants will face all four teams in the AFC North, all four in the NFC West and fellow third-place finishers Buccaneers (home) and Bears (away).
