NFL Draft 2023: Giants, Jets pick new franchise QBs in latest 1st-round mock | The next Josh Allen, Geno Smith?

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll at the end of an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen (center) smiles as he speaks with Giants beat writer Daryl Slater (left) of NJ Advance Media after an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll speaks to the media during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll gestures at the end of an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen (left) and head coach Brian Daboll speak to the media during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen (left) and head coach Brian Daboll speak to the media during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll listens to a question during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll closes his eyes during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen listens to a question during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll listens to a question during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll at the end of an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen (left) and head coach Brian Daboll speak to the media during an end-of-season news conference on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

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Once again, the New York Giants and New York Jets are ready to step on the quarterback carousel.

The Giants have to decide if they want to re-sign Daniel Jones, who will be a free agent after having his fifth-year option declined.

The Jets have to decide if they want to keep investing time and resources in Zach Wilson, who looks very much like a draft bust.

That brings us to the latest first-round mock for the 2023 NFL Draft. USA Today projects both the Giants and Jets will pick new franchise quarterbacks.

At No. 13, the Jets are forecast to pick Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.

When you watch Hooker from snap to snap before he suffered a torn ACL in November, I think he showed enough to be a Geno Smith-style starter in the NFL.

At No. 25, the Giants are projected to select Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

There are those who love his toughness, leadership, and athletic potential, and believe that in the right system, he can make the same leap from gifted but unfinished player that Josh Allen did with the Buffalo Bills. Then, there are those ... who warn against turning the outlier into the norm, and whose overall reaction to Levis’ college tape it, to put it succinctly, “Ugh.”

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As for the Philadelphia Eagles, they own the New Orleans Saints’ first-round pick thanks to some smart wheeling and dealing last year by general manager Howie Roseman.

At No. 10, they are projected to select South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith.

Even if impending free agent James Bradberry is re-signed, pairing Smith and his controlled aggression in coverage with Bradberry and Darius Slay would be pure evil for every opposing offense.

At No. 31, the Eagles are projected to pick Texas running back Bijan Robinson.

At 6-foot-0 and 220 pounds, Robinson is an absolute load to bring down ... and he’s an explosive play waiting to happen.

MORE NFL:

- NFL Draft 2023: Giants get help for Daniel Jones in ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s 1st-round mock

- NFL Draft 2023: Jets pass on QB but upgrade offense in ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s 1st-round mock

- NFL Draft 2023: Eagles reload defense in ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s 1st-round mock

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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